Coronavirus: Regions hit harder by state closures, says Michael McCormack

Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack said regional Australia has been ‘unfairly impacted’ by premiers’ border closures to entire states.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack in Wagga Wagga with Meccanico owner Richard Moffatt. Picture: Brad Newman

Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack has declared regional Australia has been “unfairly impacted” by premiers’ border closures to entire states, warning the regions have shouldered “more than their share” of the pandemic’s impact.

The Nationals leader, who will embark on a whistlestop regional tour this week while Scott Morrison is on leave, will visit rural communities in NSW, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania to hear first hand what regions are demanding to help with the post-COVID recovery.

It comes amid growing frustration in regional centres over the ad hoc approach taken by states on border closures and the lack of national standards over how many cases should trigger the restrictions.

Asked about statewide coronavirus-related lockdowns, Mr McCormack told The Australian the approach had not been proportionate.

“Regional people who are more than carrying their share of the economic load in terms of growing agriculture and resources and working hard as ever, yes they have been unfairly impinged upon by restrictions placed upon them based on far-off capital cities,” he said.

“But I respect the premiers for doing what they thought needed to be done to put safety and public health first.”

Richard Moffatt, co-owner of Meccanico cafe and wine bar in Mr McCormack’s electorate of Wagga, said he shed a tear when learning of national coronavirus-related restrictions for the hospitality industry in March last year. Mr Moffatt’s business, which had been in operation for less than six months, had to adapt to takeaway overnight and 11 staff were stood down.

“We adapted quickly. I think part of the reason why we were able to do that is we were so new,” he said.

Mr Moffatt called on premiers to change statewide approaches to lockdowns.

“It’s just not realistic and doesn’t work. Wagga Wagga and other regional NSW towns are very different to Sydney and I’d argue that to be the same in Victoria too,” he said. “To be tarred with the same brush and the same sort of restrictions as Sydney is just overkill for regional areas.”

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly on Sunday said he was encouraged that most states were working towards only locking down hot spots.

“I’m very pleased to see most states working towards a hot spot rather than a whole state approach and I think it’s very pleasing,” Professor Kelly said. “They (the premiers) will make their own decisions based on protecting their own communities in relation to what would trigger a hot spot.”

Mr McCormack, who holds the infrastructure, transport and regional development portfolio, is also expected to focus on roads when meeting with local stakeholders on his trip.

With trade a major concern of farmers, who have called on the federal government to resolve worsening tensions with China, Mr McCormack said he was confident new deals were being struck to allow producers to diversify.

A slew of Chinese tariffs have been slapped on Australian exports such as barley, wheat and wine in recent months.

Mr McCormack said Trade Minister Dan Tehan, representing the regional Victorian electorate of Wannon, would be a keen advocate for the bush.

“Having come from the regions, I think he’ll really understand first hand the effect (of the China trade dispute),” Mr McCormack said.

Mr McCormack jetted off from his home in Wagga Wagga on Sunday to western NSW where he will visit Narrabri and Moree.

He will be joined by Water Minister Keith Pitt in Townsville.