Coronavirus Australia: Have your say on the state of our borders

Outrage over how some states and territories have approached borders escalated after SA’s virus outbreak. How do you feel about our borders?

If there’s ever been a time to see our own backyard, 2020 has *sort of* been it.

But the contentious decisions made by state and territory leaders around our borders opening and closing has put travel plans – and jobs – in limbo.

The South Australian outbreak is the latest spanner thrown into Australia’s path to tourism recovery, with several jurisdiction leaders bringing back the hard border in varying capacities as a way of slowing the spread.

While the Northern Territory and Western Australia were quick to shut up shop following the outbreak, other leaders urged borders to remain open.

What are your thoughts on Australia's border debate?

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian advised residents to delay trips to South Australia, but was one of the few states not to alter border restrictions in any way.

“We need to learn to live with COVID,” Ms Berejiklian said on Monday. “You can’t shut down borders and disrupt lives every time there is an outbreak and disrupt businesses. We need to have confidence, not just in our own system, but the system in other states to be able to get on top of the virus.”

The border restrictions have been one of the most contentious topics of the coronavirus pandemic. While some see it as politically driven, others see the value in shutting up shop to slow the spread.

We want to know how Australians feel about the current state of our borders. Take part in our survey below.