The NSW government has been asked why it will take up to 10 days to revert back to the 50-kilometre "border bubble", when it had managed to tighten restrictions far more quickly in recent months.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Indi MP Helen Haines on Wednesday questioned the timeframe announced this week by NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro.
"We can close the border in 48 hours, right? So I'm asking, why does it take seven to 10 days to open it again?" she said.
"Why can't we ease the restrictions in the same amount of time?"
Speaking to media at Parliament House in Canberra, Dr Haines welcomed the decision to revert back to the 50km bubble on the NSW-Victorian border, but questioned the NSW government's political motivations.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"There is no rationale that underpins the (border) restrictions," she said.
"Deputy Premier Barilaro told us there would be some easing of the zone, but based on no rationale - based on, I can only presume, the pressure that's come from mayors, from the local community and from MPs.
"It's political pressure rather than solid public health rationale, that's what we're seeing."
She said an "agreed set of national protocols" should be developed and borders only closed after consultation with councils, education providers and the business sector so they could be prepared.
"We really don't know when that border will tighten again, we have no guarantees," Dr Haines said.
Mr Barilaro had said the decision to extend the border bubble back to 50km was made after discussions with NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant about Victoria's "stable" coronavirus numbers, and a forum with Dr Chant and health officials including from Albury Wodonga Health.
"It gives (Dr Chant) confidence that we can now revisit the issues on the border and that is the message that I wanted her to hear, that is the message I wanted the participants to hear," he said.
Dr Haines supported Mr Barilaro's plan for a border advisory group, but said there were scant details so far.
Asked if she thought the problem was decisions on border closures being made by people in Sydney, she said that was a possibility.
"Whoever is making the decision, wherever they are - if they happen to be in Pitt Street - perhaps they need to get out their atlas of Australia," she said.
"But more importantly than that, than throwing stones at a city-centric department, is we need to have a conversation with the local people."