“DISGRACEFUL” border restrictions are destroying lives, businesses and communities and should be removed immediately, Member for Mallee Anne Webster has told Federal Parliament.
Dr Webster said that while the New South Wales Government had created a workable permit system in its management of border restrictions, Victorians were being treated like lepers in South Australia due to a campaign of fear dressed up as measures to protect that state.
She said she had heard countless stories of despair and heartache due to the border closures from Mallee residents as well as stories of abuse and harassment by South Australian locals directed towards Victorians, who had permits to enter South Australia, but were identified due to their numberplates.
“Despite their differing approaches, I maintain that both the New South Wales and South Australian borders need to come down,” Dr Webster said.
“No matter what kinds of changes are implemented, there will always be outsiders,” she said.
“There will always be someone who misses out — the only solution is to remove these restrictions entirely.
“They say that only when you’ve said something a thousand times does someone hear it the first time.
“I will say it a million times until the message is received by the New South Wales and South Australian premiers — these borders need to come down, now.”
Dr Webster said the Mallee electorate was one of only nine Commonwealth electorates that bordered two states and was the only electorate in the country that still had extensive restrictions on both borders.
“When the South Australian Government closed the border to Victoria, followed closely by New South Wales, I was gravely concerned for our border communities in Mallee,” she said.
“First, there were challenges with agriculture and seasonal workers, then people were denied access to essential health care.
“Businesses lost work, families were separated and people were not permitted to attend family funerals.”
Dr Webster said that while the NSW Government heard the concerns of the border communities and responded accordingly, the South Australian Government had a vastly different approach to the management of border restrictions.
She said there was no central point of contact within the South Australian Government, no cross-border commissioner and no discernible way to escalate or appeal decisions.
“The exemptions process has been complicated,” she said.
“Medical exemptions are unobtainable without significant lobbying and are granted for only the most serious of circumstances.
“Yes, we have seen relaxations on reasons to cross the border within the 70km border region, but residents in this region need to be tested every seven days should they wish to enter South Australia.
“Some residents will be due for their 16th test this week, which is a disturbing imposition on individuals who live in a region that has never had a case of COVID-19.”
Dr Webster said it was time for the border restrictions to go.
“They are destroying lives, they are destroying businesses and they are destroying communities,” she said.
