Police turn 800 vehicles around at NSW-Victoria border closure checkpoints

NSW Police have only turned 800 vehicles around trying to enter the state from Victoria as they praised the compliance of local communities.

Only one in every 750 vehicles has been turned around without a permit at the NSW-Victorian border as police praised the compliance of local communities.

NSW Police Superintendent Paul Smith provided an update on the border closure on Thursday and said officers had helped more than 600,000 vehicles cross the border since July 8.

He said only about 800 had been turned around without a valid reason to enter the state, while one man had been charged and three others handed fines for noncompliance.

It comes as a Melbourne man was charged with breaching the coronavirus public health order and possessing a prescribed restricted substance after flying into Sydney without a valid reason to be in NSW.

The Roxburgh Park man, 21, allegedly lied about having children and failed to comply with police direction to return to Victoria and was arrested.

“There's still some fools coming through,” Supt Smith said.

“There is no exemption, you need a permit to get into NSW, you need a reason to go with it. If you haven’t you will be turned around. If you don’t turn around you’ll be either given an on-the-spot fine or arrested.

Superintendent Paul Smith said there were still ‘some fools’ trying to get into NSW from Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Dallinger

Delays on the Hume Freeway near the Murray River border crossing between Albury and Wodonga on July 22. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Dallinger

“We’ve had four arrests in this police district in relation to people not accepting the current situation. We have seen other people still coming through checkpoints even (on Wednesday) in relation to carrying drugs and other contraband who were detected.

“If you’re carrying drugs, other contraband, and you’re going to cross the border, chances are you’re going to be detected.”

Supt Smith said despite the blatant breaches of some, there had generally been great compliance with border restrictions.

“Considering the stress the border communities are under right along from the coast to Wentworth, compliance has been very good, particularly by our border residents,” he said.

Supt Smith said when the tighter restrictions were introduced last week border crossing movements dropped from 50,000 a day to 30,000 but had risen incrementally to about 40,000 on Wednesday.

He said during the week delays were now only being experienced at the Albury-Wodonga crossing, with the start and finish of work and school days the busiest periods.

“Avoid those times. The middle of the day, the evening or the weekend the delays will be lessened and for everyone else as well,” he said.

Albury Liberal MP Justin Clancy said the virus figures coming out of Victoria on Thursday were “concerning and confronting”, but he hadn’t discussed a hard border closure with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian yet.

“NSW needs to do everything it can to reduce the risk of transmission into NSW,” he said.

“My role is to make sure I'm a voice to the Government about the impacts on our community and how it is affecting our community.”

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