As health restrictions and the Sydney lockdown continue in NSW, residents in the border region are bracing themselves for the possibility that the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk may close the border.
Tweed Shire Councillor James Owen says he is imploring the NSW and QLD governments to work together to establish a border region – with passes that last at least 14 days – prior to any decision on a closure.
‘In the past, the border has been slammed shut with little to no notice, and we have been left scrambling for a way forward.
‘This is not about politics, Liberal or Labor, blue or red, this is about people’s lives, their livelihoods and their mental health. Our elected representatives need to stop the politicking, mud-slinging and scaremongering, and start proactively advocating for our border community. Aren’t we all in this together?’
The Queensland Premier said yesterday that at this stage she has no plan to close the border, but as COVID cases continue to rise in Sydney and surrounds, there are no guarantees.
Cr Owen says border communities, by nature, are intrinsically linked. ‘Ours is no different. Many people in the Tweed Shire cross the border daily, some multiple times, for a variety of reasons – work, school, medical appointments, sport.
‘Life in our border community has never been harder, or more uncertain. We need the NSW and QLD governments to work together to establish a NSW/QLD border region before any hard border closure between the two states, and we need those that we have elected to office to start proactively advocating for us to make our lives easier, and to give us the certainty that we deserve.’
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
COVID-19 reduces Australian life expectancy
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Life shows life expectancy in Australia has decreased slightly for the second year in a row.
Wuhan market increasingly likely origin point for COVID-19
An international team of researchers has found more evidence that COVID-19 came from animals in a Wuhan food market.
Editorial – There’s a bat in my lab!
The lab-leak theory that Covid-19 came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology – instead of a nearby wet market – was thrashed about in public recently, with the US Senate Homeland Security Committee holding a hearing into Covid-19.
Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need
Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.
COVID-19 pandemic has cut life expectancy globally
COVID-19 reversed earlier trends toward longer life expectancies. During the pandemic, life expectancies globally dropped by 1.6 years according to a new study published in the Lancet medical journal.
COVID-19 update for New South Wales
Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day.
Five graphs you need to see before the Global Carbon Budget...
The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing.
Public transport mask mandate to end
Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September.
NSW Police: be COVID-vigilant at Splendour in the Grass
SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures.
COVID-19 update for the NNSWLHD – May 23
The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
