BORDER restrictions will be on the agenda at Friday’s National Cabinet meeting, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says.
The state would seek “different treatment” for those who had been disproportionately burdened by border closures, Mr Andrews said in his Thursday press conference.
He said he would be seeking “the most workable set of arrangements”.
“There needs just to be a really clear acknowledgement of all the different knock-ons,” Mr Andrews said.
“We’ll provide some further insights and further case studies and we’ll seek some different treatment for those — it’s a burden for many — but it can be a disproportionate burden for some.
“We’re very regularly trying to make that case, but I think elevating it to a national discussion is a good thing.”
New South Wales and South Australia have each imposed restrictions on their borders with Victoria amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Tougher rules by SA, limiting almost all movement from Victorian border communities into neighbouring towns, will take effect Friday.
Mr Andrews again said Regional Development Minister Jaclyn Symes was leading the government’s response to border issues.
He said while state ministers were working together, if needed he would speak to SA Premier Steven Marshall himself.
“I’ve had discussions with the Premier of New South Wales, if I need to have discussions with the Premier of South Australia, then of course I would do that,” he said.
Mr Andrews denied Victoria’s response to the SA changes wasn’t proactive.
“I would describe what we’ve been doing as absolutely proactive,” he said.
“We’ve got minister to minister, all sorts of meetings and discussions working through these issues.
“I think that there’s a genuine interest and a lot of work going on to try and resolve them.
“Some of them we will not be able to resolve, because that’s the nature of closing the border. It is about limiting movement, but it’s not settled, there’s more that needs to be done.”
