Coronavirus: Peter Dutton urges states not to close borders to NSW

One new coronavirus case in NSW this week has prompted fear state borders will again close despite opposition from the federal government.

Peter Dutton has urged states not to close their borders following one coronavirus case in NSW.

The Home Affairs Minister said the government would receive further advice from NSW Health after a Sydney quarantine worker tested positive for COVID-19.

But the shock development has prompted fears Western Australia could delay its planned reopening to NSW on December 8.

“We are talking about a single case and we can’t close down borders,” Mr Dutton demanded on Today.

“People can’t be forced to cancel their Christmas holidays or repatriation with family members because of one case.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the new case in NSW was worrying. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tony McDonough

Mr Dutton said authorities could be reassured that NSW had a strong contact tracing system that enabled the state to get on top of cases very quickly.

Queensland has agreed to keep its border open, which Agriculture Minister David Littleproud claimed was because there was no longer a state election in play.

“We shouldn’t go back to arbitrary lines and a map put their 120 years ago,” he told Sky News.

“We should back one another. We back the nation to keep ourselves safe, and we’re doing that with contact tracing, isolation and eventually a vaccine.”