Army asked to help close Vic-NSW border after coronavirus spike

The border between NSW and Victoria will close from Tuesday night, with the army asked to help guard the 55 points of entry between the states.

The border between NSW and Victoria will close from Tuesday night after crisis talks between the state premiers and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

A request to the Department of Defence has been made for military assistance from 11.59pm on Tuesday to help secure the 55 points of entry between the two states, with New South Wales taking responsibility for enforcing the closures.

Drones and aerial surveillance will be used to help monitor bush tracks and rivers, while most resources will be used to patrol the four main roads between the states.

NSW Police are also in talks with Health Minister Brad Hazzard to see if bigger fines and jail sentences can be implemented for those coming from the Melbourne hot spots, where community transmission has caused a massive outbreak of the virus.

“At this stage we know there is still an $11,000 fine and up to six months in jail (for those entering NSW),” NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said.

“I have reached out to the Health Minister this morning looking for another infringement for those who come from COVID high-risk areas of Victoria into New South Wales. We are seeking health orders for powers to turn people around. So there are certainly strong powers in place but we will be seeking additional powers around on-the-spot fines, especially for those who mislead New South Wales in their exemption application.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement on Monday morning, noting the enforcement would take place on the NSW side of the border so as not to drain Victorian resources focused on countering the coronavirus spike in the state.

“From 11.59pm midnight tomorrow night, the border with NSW will be closed,” he said.

“That is the result of a phone hook-up between the Prime Minister and the Premier of NSW and myself just an hour or so ago, where we have – all of us – agreed that the best thing to do is to close the border.”

Mr Andrews said the closure would not affect everyone, with a permit system to be implemented for those living on border towns such as Albury-Wodonga. This will be provided online via Services NSW from Tuesday.

“There will be a permit system and further detailed arrangements will be announced by the Premier of New South Wales a bit later on today,” he said.

“There will be a facility for people who live on those border communities to be able to travel to and from for the purposes of work, the purposes of the essential health services they might need.”

Mr Andrews said the closure “won’t be a feature that goes on any longer than it needs to” but acknowledged the closure was easier than trying to monitor residents in hot-spot areas.

This will mark the first time in 100 years the border has been closed and comes as Victoria announces a record high 127 new cases of coronavirus and two deaths.

There are now 2660 active cases of the virus in the state.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said there were four road crossings, 33 bridges, two waterway crossings and multiple smaller roads connecting NSW and Victoria.

“The task is not lost on me, in terms of the enormity of the logistics in this operation alone,” he said.

“There are 11 local government areas, five police districts that will all have to pull together to make sure this operation is a success. I have been in contact with Department of Defence this morning and we will seek a fresh request for defence assistance with the border operation.”

A sign erected in Wodonga Place in Albury, on the NSW-Victoria border, tells people to stay home. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Simon Dallinger

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who has previously said she was opposed to border closures due to their economic effect, said the closure was a “necessary step” and not one taken lightly.

“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,” she said.

Ms Berejiklian said police had already taken steps to secure the entry points and also called for other states to open their borders to New South Wales.

“Please know this is not a decision we take lightly, but during the pandemic, I have always said New South Wales will have a no-regrets policy,” she said.

“I thank both the Prime Minister and Mr Andrews for allowing us to move forward with this decision, and I also stress to the other states, now that New South Wales has taken this decision and given where we are, there is really no excuse for any other state, apart from Victoria, to have any border closures with New South Wales.”

“I urge all the other states of Australia, in our national interest, to think about that. Given this move by the New South Wales Government, we now anticipate that the rest of the nation will be able to deal with each other directly without any hard border closures.”

There have been 10 new coronavirus cases in NSW overnight.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the situation in Victoria was ‘a new part of the pandemic’ and required a ‘new response’. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg had previously warned that Queensland’s hard-line border closure – which lacked medical advice – would result in job losses.

Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Mr Frydenberg said: “There is no doubt that closed borders cost jobs, but we are facing a significant spike in cases with Victoria”.

“This outbreak in Victoria while serious and significant is not a surprise.

“Once it’s brought under control we want the economy to get back to normal as soon as possible.”

Mr Frydenberg called on states to work together, adding “this is not State of Origin”.

“Victoria’s success in the week ahead with stemming the tide of new cases will affect the whole economy as a whole,” he said.