QLD NSW border: Tweed Cr James Owen calls for appointment of commissioner
The Queensland government is being told to appoint a special commissioner to help end confusion as frustration grows among border communities.
Gold Coast
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A TWEED councillor has called on the Queensland government to appoint a cross-border commissioner, saying he wants “more clarity, less concern and confusion” for residents within the QLD/NSW border bubble.
New South Wales already has a commissioner, appointed in 2014, tasked with advocating for border communities, and Cr Owen said the appointment of a Queensland equivalent was a “matter of urgency”.
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“Strong advocacy, active representation, and effective communication is more crucial than ever for border communities, such as ours in the Tweed Shire,” Cr Owen said.
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“There has never been a greater need for effective and productive collaboration between Queensland and New South Wales over border issues since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the appointment of a Queensland Cross Border Commissioner to work with the New South Wales Cross Border Commissioner will assist this.”
Cr Owen said he had been “overwhelmed” with queries from concerned residents since the border bubble came into effect at 1am on Saturday.
He said the issues of who is eligible for exemptions, the exclusion of communities within the 2483 postcode from the bubble and problems facing construction workers were among the chief concerns.
Originally published as QLD NSW border: Tweed Cr James Owen calls for appointment of commissioner