Exclusive: NSW has had a change of heart and review could see border moved to the Tweed River
NSW has proposed a series of changes on the border in a letter to the Queensland government – including moving the boundary line south. SEE THE FULL LIST OF MEASURES PROPOSED >>>
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THE Tweed River could be the new Queensland-NSW boundary line of a permanent cross “border bubble” after the NSW government agreed to enter talks with the Palaszczuk government.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro wrote to Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath on Friday “seeking a review of conditions impacting on local communities”.
The move follows reports in the Bulletin outlining how some depressed border business operators were suicidal after losing 80 per cent of their trade and Gold Coast-based medical workers could not attend to dying patients on the Tweed.
The Tweed River boundary was first flagged by the Bulletin in August as a game breaker for the border pain, but NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian refused repeated requests by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, citing legal and operational costs.
On Friday, Mr Barilaro said he was open to the following measures:
● Establishing a consistent “border bubble” region;
● Establishing consistent travel conditions for “border bubble” residents, including faster connections for essential health workers providing vital services in both states;
● Operational improvements on the border including more crossings;
● Create an appeal process for exemptions.
“I would welcome an opportunity to discuss how we can work together to better manage border restrictions, and the impact on the people of regional Queensland and New South Wales,” Mr Barilaro wrote.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the Queensland government would work with NSW “to put in place whatever measures to keep the border safe” and reduce the impacts on the community”.
Minister of Employment and Small Business, Di Farmer, who visited Coolangatta on Friday, said the Queensland government was hearing “load and clear” the difficulties being faced by border residents and was eager to find a solution.
“We know that COVID-19 is having a huge impact on small businesses, and for those either side of the border it’s especially difficult right now, Ms Farmer said.
“I have been in Coolangatta today (Friday) speaking with small businesses and listening to what they’re going through, as well as catching up with peak small business bodies.
“Coolangatta and Tweed Heads might be in different states, but they’re essentially the same community. Businesses have staff and shops – and even family – either side of the border.
“Talking to businesses, the fall in foot traffic and the staffing and business management issues stemming from the border are the number one issue right now.
“I’m hearing the message loud and clear about how hard the impacts of the border closure are. I want businesses to know we are working hard to find a solution.
“The government has repeatedly called on New South Wales to move the border checkpoint south to the Tweed River. We were initially told no, but the Deputy Premier of NSW has now been in touch to see how the two governments can work together so we can reduce the impact on the community.
“I really welcome this and want us all to work together so we can help those small businesses on the border doing it tough, while still protecting the health of Queenslanders.”
EARLIER: RETHINK ON MOVING BORDER SOUTH
IN a sensational COVID lockdown development, NSW appears to have “softened” its stance on moving the Tweed border south to ease the health and business crisis caused by lockdown.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in correspondence with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has previously stood firm and refused a request to move checkpoints south of the Tweed River.
But political sources suggest there is a change of heart and a review will be conducted to best determine how to help border communities.
“NSW has softened its border stance. The river will be an option for discussions,” a Queensland political source said.
The Bulletin can reveal high-ranking NSW Government officials have contacted the Queensland Government on Friday indicating NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro was keen to start negotiations about shifting the border south.
“It comes after numerous requests from the Palaszczuk Government to shift the border south to ease pressure on the border community were denied by NSW,” a source said.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles later confirmed the positive reachout from NSW.
“Not long ago, the Premier wrote to the Premier of NSW and asked for that collaboration at that stage. It was declined,” he said.
“However, we certainly welcome this change of heart and approach from the Deputy Premier of NSW to work with us and of course, of course we will work with them to put in place whatever measures we can to both keep the border safe but also minimise its impact to the extent that it’s possible.
Both governments are under pressure as residents demand the Queensland-NSW border to be extended to the Tweed River as the lockdown is creating chaos for doctors and specialists reaching patients on both sides.
The Bulletin in reports in the past week has detailed how some depressed small business operators are suicidal losing up to 80 per cent of their trade, and how Coast-based medical support staff cannot get to their patients, some of whom are dying.
Several health sources on Friday claim the lockdown is not just limited to medical service support staff who must stay south but has created challenges for doctors and specialists.
The Tweed Shire Council and northern NSW MPS have joined forces to push for a new “cross border community zone” in the region, which has not recorded a single case during the worsening Covid-19 outbreak across the border.
A health source said the Tweed was confronted with a doctor shortage as many Queensland practitioners were struggling to get south to patients.
Other sources say northern NSW specialists are not able to access their Queensland patients, and some Coast private facilities put restrictions in place on their northern NSW-based staffers.
The Bulletin asked Gold Coast Health if it had taken a policy position that their doctors and specialists who attend to patients at the University Hospital or Robina Hospital were not allowed to access the Tweed Hospital.
“Gold Coast Health has less than 10 specialists who also work at hospitals across the border. Arrangements have been made for these critically-essential staff to continue to work at both facilities. These doctors will be required to abide by additional infection control measures,” a Gold Coast Health spokesman said.
The majority of almost 100 responses by Bulletin readers to the border health crisis have asked for both governments to have a rethink about relocating to the border further south.
The Bulletin in a report in August first flagged the plan to have the Tweed River become the new border geographical landmark after political strategists suggested it was the only long term solution with the Delta strain impacting on northern NSW communities.
A resident on Friday on the Bulletin’s Facebook page wrote: “Move the border. Tweed needs to be included in Queensland this time. Another on the page posted: “Move the bloody border, it’s not rocket science. Need some sensibility here ffs (sic).”
The Tweed Shire Council in a statement on Friday said a new zone could include establishing checkpoints on the southern and western ends of the Tweed, replacing hard border control measures on the Queensland-NSW border at Coolangatta, Numinbah and Tomewin.
Tweed residents could return to essential work and attend hospitals and schools, bolstering the Tweed and southern Gold Coast, while adhering to public health orders.
Tweed MP Geoff Provest, Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry, Ballina MP Tamara Smith and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin and Ballina MLC Catherine Cusack met earlier this week in a “show of bipartisan support”.
They hope to see the zone established as a pilot in the Tweed – with the support of the Queensland and NSW governments – before a potential expansion to surrounding local government areas.
The politicians agreed to back Mr Provest to make urgent representations on their behalf to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro to engage NSW Cross-Border Commissioner James McTavish “to develop a proposal to establish a pilot cross border community zone around the Tweed LGA”.
But Mr McTavish has reportedly raised concerns implementing a zone would be complex and would mean Tweed residents have to adhere to Queensland health orders.
Cr Cherry said: “Every day we’re hearing case after case of the dire impacts the border closure is having on our families and businesses across the Northern Rivers.”
“We cannot sit by and watch our communities crumble like this.We have to work together to forge a solution that works for the benefit of all – while ensuring we maintain a Covid-safe community moving forward.
“The combination of lockdown and hard border closure means our residents and businesses are experiencing extremely harsh restrictions.
“Some business owners are unable to physically access their own premises, the construction industry is completely shut down and there are no ‘buddy bubbles’ even for immediate family members and partners.”
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