THE Victorian Government has been accused of having a “clear lack of understanding” about how border communities work following the reintroduction of a permit system between Victoria and NSW.
From 6pm today, Sunraysia residents will need a permit to move between Victoria and NSW within the border bubble in a move Federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster said was “inappropriate”, “unjustifiable” and “cruel and senseless”.
In extending the current lockdown across Melbourne for another seven days, the Victorian Government said that due to the current level of community transmission of coronavirus in Victoria from the recent NSW incursions, a permit system would again apply to border bubble residents.
“We know the changes to border rules have been a challenge for border residents, but the permit will improve our ability to track who is entering Victoria from NSW and make it easier to rapidly get information to contact tracers and to monitor for compliance,” the government said in a statement.
However, Dr Webster said the return of permits for all cross border residents on the Victorian/NSW border was an imposition on border community member freedoms and should not be required.
“I will continue to fight against these border closures and restrictions — they are unjustifiable,” Dr Webster said.
“They are the equivalent of marking a line in the sand between Mildura and Swan Hill,” she said.
“It is irrational to think that the virus will stop because of a border.
“We need the state governments to start working collaboratively together and to implement better solutions that work for our cross border communities.
“The current methods employed by premiers is cruel and senseless for locals who are used to travelling as though Australia were one nation.”
The reasons cross border community area residents can cross the Victorian-NSW border still include necessary goods and services, including medical care; care or other compassionate reasons; work (whether paid or voluntary); education (including childcare or early childhood services); receiving a COVID-19 vaccination; and organised/community sport and exercise connected to or organised by a club or facility.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said it was important not only to limit movement, but that there was a clear picture of who was moving within border bubbles.
“Before anyone says ‘oh why, why would you do that?’, if this virus can get from Sydney to Byron Bay, to Dubbo, to Armidale, to Tamworth, then only a fool would think that it couldn’t get to Albury,” Mr Andrews said.
“It absolutely can and that’s why we need to go beyond just a bubble … then we have a clear sense of who is moving within those border towns,” he said.
“Logic tells you there is every chance that (if) it comes to those southern New South Wales communities and then there is a potential risk of coming in to Victoria.
“The inconvenience of getting a permit is nothing compared to being locked down or having cases and an outbreak.
“We have seen movement well into regional New South Wales, we have to assume that that is going to be a feature of the New South Wales outbreak for some time.”
Residents can apply for a permit at the Service Victoria website and via the Service Victoria app.
