Coronavirus: Thousands coughed up over confusing border

Victorians holidaying in Queensland are concerned they will be forced to undergo long, dangerous drives without proper rest breaks to drive home through NSW.

Holidaymakers in NSW heading to the Victorian border. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Victorians holidaying in Queensland are concerned they will be forced to undergo long, dangerous drives without proper rest breaks to drive home through NSW.

The confusion arrived on the back of the Victorian government’s decision on Friday to close its border with NSW.

Despite assurances from the Andrews government that a “transit permit” in effect from midnight on Friday would simplify the process, some Victorians have already coughed up thousands while waiting in limbo.

Melbourne man Connor Jackson, 23, is currently holidaying with his partner Dylan Hulands, 28, on the Gold Coast.

The couple were due to drive back to Melbourne on Saturday, and had intended to share the driving and break the 20-hour journey with a stay in the central western NSW town of Parkes.

But when the Andrews government announced the impending border closure shortly before 4pm on Thursday, Mr Jackson and Mr Hulands realised their plans would have to change.

Mr Jackson made “about 40” attempts to call the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services immediately after the announcement, and finally had his call answered at about 7pm, he said.

The staff member he initially spoke to was unable to tell him what the arrangements would be for people returning to Victoria from Queensland via NSW, so he spent another 40 minutes on hold waiting to speak to a manager.

Victoria’s coronavirus testing chief Jeroen Weimar. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

“She told me the border would be closed to us if we drove back through NSW,” Mr Jackson said.

“I asked if I could get an exemption and she said to call back in about a week, once they are (finished) dealing with urgent situations. I’m not joking.”

On Friday morning, ahead of the midnight border closure, Victorian coronavirus testing commander Jeroen Weimar was asked whether people could travel from Queensland to Victoria via NSW if they only stop for rest breaks.

“Today, absolutely you can,” Mr Weimar said. “I’ve done it myself, and it‘s a good drive.”

“I think more to the point there will be a permit system in place, a transit permit in place from tomorrow, whereby people who need to make the long drive from Queensland back into Victoria will under very strict conditions, around up to 15-minute stops wearing face masks, socially distancing etc, under certain conditions, will be able to make that cross-state journey.”

On most of the frequently travelled routes, the journey from just north of the NSW-Queensland border to just south of the Victorian-NSW border is more than 1000km, meaning many people returning from Queensland to Victoria will be required to drive for at least 12 hours without an overnight break.

Mr Jackson said he was concerned the road accident risks posed by people undertaking long journeys to comply with Victorian border closures would outweigh any coronavirus risks posed by them stopping in regional NSW.

“We are happy to self-quarantine at home and get a test, but $6,000-plus for hotel quarantine would be a huge cost burden,” he said.

On Friday the couple made the decision to book a $961 flight home on Sunday for Mr Hulands, who is due back at work in Melbourne on Monday.

Mr Jackson said he intends to drive their car home when he receives some clarity from the Andrews government about what the trip will involve.

He has already spent about $1000 on extra accommodation while waiting in Queensland.