NSW border closure exemptions: How to get a permit to enter Victoria

NSW will close the border to Victoria within hours – but while there will be exemptions, the shock news has already sparked chaos.

The NSW Government says it will do all it can to ease disruptions caused by the shock Victorian border closure – but the announcement has sent shockwaves through border communities.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed there will be exemptions available and that eligible Aussies – such as those who live on one side of the border but work on the other – will be able to access special permits to allow them to move between the states.

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But it has still caused widespread confusion regarding exactly how to qualify for a permit, and what specific exemptions will be available.

Here’s what we know so far.

HOW WILL THE CLOSURE BE ENFORCED?

The border closure will be enforced on the NSW side – so in a nutshell, if you’re a Victorian returning home from NSW you will be allowed to carry on.

If you’re a NSW resident returning home, that will be allowed too – it just means most Victorians won’t be allowed to cross into NSW from midnight tomorrow.

For folks complaining about closure of NSW/Vic border due to Wodonga, a solution is to treat Wodonga as part of NSW & put border stop south of the town.

That way Albury/Wodonga could keep functioning as a single integrated township.#auspol #springst #nswpol #covid19au

— Craig Thomler (@craigthomler) July 6, 2020

WHEN WILL PERMITS BE AVAILABLE?

The bad news is, permits won’t be issued immediately, with Ms Berejiklian confirming in a press conference today that it could take days before they are rolled out.

“We have been in contact with a number of border communities to explain to them that whilst the next 48 to 72 hours will be difficult in terms of not letting anyone across the border, we appreciate that for communities like Wodonga, for freight going in and out of Eden and other places, there will be exemptions (and) permits available,” she said.

NSW will shut its borders to Victoria at midnight tomorrow. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

HOW DO I APPLY?

While details remain scant, Ms Berejiklian said the process will be controlled by Service NSW.

“ … Service NSW will be able to do that online and make it as easy as possible for people who live in those communities,” the Premier said.

“I want to stress that what is occurring in Victoria has not yet occurred anywhere else in Australia. It is a new part of the pandemic and, as such, it requires a new type of response.”

WILL ANY OTHER BORDERS BE AFFECTED?

At the moment, NSW is still open for business to every other state and territory except for Victoria.

“ … in terms of jobs and economic activity, whilst all of us need to support Victoria during this difficult time and NSW, along with many other states, will continue to provide our support, whether it is through contact tracing, whether it is through doing thousands of daily tests and having health officials down there, we will support them in every way we can but we also have an obligation to make sure we don’t create any further job losses in the rest of the nation and we support our economy and the rest of the nation by having free and open borders with the rest of the nation,” Ms Berejiklian said.

How is this going to work for those of us who live on one side of the border and work on the other, exactly? pic.twitter.com/70BP0FNhfy

— Amy Coopes (@coopesdetat) July 6, 2020

WHAT ABOUT FLIGHTS AND TRAINS?

Ms Berejiklian said there would “obviously” be exemptions to the rule, particularly for “hardship cases” and NSW residents who are returning home, which means there will “still be some flights and train services available”.

“So for that reason we do anticipate there will still be flights and obviously passenger train services, but only for those who have got permits and only for those who are returning NSW residents,” she said.

But those crossing the border will “absolutely have to self-isolate”.

“We will be relying on them to self isolate, but can I stress what … we have been stressing since the beginning of the pandemic, and that is please make sure, if you have the mildest symptoms, no matter what your circumstances, the mildest symptoms mean you have to go and get tested,” she said.

“You may very well have been in contact with someone who may have been in contact with someone from Melbourne some days ago.

“We know that for some people, the virus can be active for quite a long period of time, so please make sure with the mildest of symptoms that people come forward and get tested.”

Ms Berejiklian said on the weekend almost 12,000 people had been tested “overnight” and she thanked them and health officials for their help in keeping up the state’s testing rate.

“If there have been potential bubbles of community transmission, we have been able to get on top of it, and that remains important. Because there is a high likelihood, and there has always been a high likelihood, there are people walking around with the virus in the community,” she said.

“And the only way we will be able to contain the spread and stop that spread is when people can come and get tested, and our excellent detectives, our contact tracers, can get on top of it and prevent the spread.”