No new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSW HD) and the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has called on the Queensland Premier ‘to have compassion’ for the NSW/Qld border communities.
In her press conference this morning Premier Berejiklian pointed out that Northern NSW has had no COVID-19 cases and that the Qld Premier would give this consideration in relation to the south east Qld and Northern Rivers border communities.
‘I understand that south east Qld are just as frustrated,’ said Berejiklian.
However, she said that NSW would not be moving the border.
Need a solution
Responding to the Premiers statement Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry told The Echo that she has ‘had people in the community calling me up and asking for a solution.’
‘They are asking if we should have a ring of steel around the Northern Rivers so that we can reduce the risk of infection from other areas of the state and ensure we have the ability to interact for our cross border communities.
‘It is disappointing to hear that the border checkpoint cannot be moved to secure the Northern Rivers or even the Tweed Shire. As a community we need an explanation from both NSW and Qld as to why this can’t be done,’ she said.
‘The bipartisan, cross border task force are meeting with the Cross Border Commissioner again tomorrow to see how we can progress the issue.’
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