Why was the Northern Rivers lockdown extended?

As frustration and confusion builds over the extension of the lockdown on the Northern Rivers, the Deputy Premier sought to deflect some of that anger.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he “genuinely felt for the Northern Rivers”, but did not end its lockdown pain. (Photo by Bianca De Marchi – Pool/Getty Images)

The extension of the Northern NSW lockdown has been met with disappointment by both the community and our local politicians, but the deputy premier sought to deflect some of the anger to the QLD Government.

While he “genuinely felt for the Northern Rivers”, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the strict border restrictions added another level to the pain felt by the community.

Mr Barilaro admitted the residents of Northern NSW had done “everything right” during the Covid-19 lockdown, but it still wasn't enough for it to end on Saturday.

He sympathised with people from the region, but said the situation was like a “tinderbox that would only take one spark to ignite”.

Despite no new cases in Northern NSW for more than two weeks, he said the lockdown extension was to protect the people of regional NSW from the Covid outbreak spreading.

He said while risk was low in the region, the government could not open a small area of the state in isolation.

Mr Barilaro argued the strict QLD border restrictions were unnecessary, he did not agree with the reasoning behind them, and thought there could be a better arrangement in place.

However, QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has repeatedly said, while NSW had stay-at-home orders in place for all of NSW, strict border restrictions would not be lifted.

Ms Palaszczuk had welcomed the idea of moving the border checkpoint further south, but said it had been “flatly rejected by the NSW Government.

Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis said he was decision to extend the lockdown was “disappointing” as he had pleaded against it to the Premier.

He echoed the call from the Deputy Premier though for an easing of border restrictions.

“We don’t have a case, we have vaccination rates pretty much the same as NSW – and we interact with Queensland, for health, for work and other legitimate reasons,” he said.

“We have family over there – there’s numerous why we need to cross that border – it’s silly to impose such harsh restriction.

“We’re far removed from Sydney, we really are – we’re closer to Queensland than we are to Brisbane, so we have that natural interaction and relationship and we do business with them on a daily basis.”

Mr Gulaptis said he understood the focus was on where there was the highest level of community transmission, and that he understood the government’s concern about the outbreak spreading.

“We get that, maybe the government in Macquarie St is focused on Sydney, being the centre of the state – there’s no doubt about it – the government is focused where there is a high level of community transmission.

“I get it, and I get what the deputy premier is saying – one of the reasons why we don’t have cases is because we are locked down.

“At the end of the day – we’ve got to get through this – we know the answer is vaccination and that’s the message everyone should be hearing loud and clear – is get vaccinated.”

Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh mirrored his thoughts saying he was disappointed for the community which was looking forward to emerging from lockdown this weekend.

“But I understand and accept the rationale for the decision,” he said.

“Before the Crisis Cabinet meeting, I did put forward some recommendations for easing of restrictions around retail, hospitality, schools and outdoor exercise, but ultimately Health made the recommendation to keep restrictions where they are.”

Richmond MP Justine Elliot however, put the ball firmly back in the court of the NSW Government, blaming it for the escalating crisis across NSW.

She called for a “ring of steel” around Northern NSW so the lockdown could be lifted.

“The lock down is devastating for our community and shows how we urgently need a Northern NSW ring of steel to protect our community – we need a Northern NSW checkpoint to keep our community safe and to protect locals’ jobs and businesses,” Ms Elliot said.

She said more than 20,000 locals had signed a petition in the past week, calling for a Northern NSW checkpoint, but the proposal had been refused by the NSW Government.

“The QLD Government has repeatedly said that they have been forced to bring in stricter border rules to guard against the escalating crisis in NSW. Our only hope now is for the Northern NSW checkpoint.

“Quite frankly I’m sick of the lies and inaction of the NSW Liberal-Nationals Government and their agencies. The fact is that governments can do anything if they have the will to do it. As a former police officer, I can assure you that a NSW Northern checkpoint is legal, practical and workable,” Ms Elliot said.

Mr Barilaro said the NSW Government would continue to work with their QLD counterparts on border issues, but had seen no indications from Annastacia Palaszczuk on what border restrictions would look like when lockdown ended.

He said lockdown would not end for any regions in NSW before September 10.