THE Mildura region’s connection to South Australia is strong.
Whether it’s family, education, health care or any other range of services, our community has always had a strong bond with our friends across the South Australian border.
Mildura is Victoria’s only regional city that is closer to an interstate capital than Melbourne.
And that’s why the current border closure, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been particularly difficult.
SA Premier Steven Marshall’s announcement this week his state was abandoning plans to reopen the border to Victoria on July 20 was met with despair from people in our community.
There’s no doubt Mr Marshall has a duty of care to South Australians but, given the Mildura local government area has not recorded a positive coronavirus case since April, we are well placed to be included in the discussion for an easing of the border restrictions.
This is a fluid situation and the rise in cases in metropolitan Melbourne is a concern, however health officials should be able to determine whether it would be safe to reopen the border to those from the Mildura LGA.
The SA Government’s transition committee was due to meet on Friday to determine whether the SA border should reopen sooner for NSW and ACT residents.
Mr Marshall this week also left the door open for a quicker reopening for western Victoria, which was encouraging to hear.
If the SA Government does move to open the NSW border earlier, it would make sense to look seriously at including the Mildura LGA as part of a travel bubble.
Having people from Wentworth or Gol Gol able to have free access to South Australia, but not residents from Mildura or Cullulleraine, just doesn’t seem logical.
The COVID-19 pandemic is, of course, a fluid situation and what might be possible now could change quickly if there are cases confirmed in our region. Let’s hope that does not happen.
Ali Cupper is the Member for Mildura
