MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton and her counterparts from the region have put aside their differences to unite for the same cause.
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NSW and Victorian MPs, including Mrs Dalton, have issued a joint plea to National Cabinet to protect border communities.
Six NSW and Victorian MPs have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, asking National Cabinet to adopt a uniform national approach to future state border closures.
The letter also requests ongoing financial compensation for border businesses who have lost considerable revenue this past year.
NSW state MPs Joe McGirr and Mrs Dalton have been joined by Victorian MPs Ali Cupper, Tim Quilty, Tania Maxwell and Fiona Patten in signing the letter.
Mrs Dalton said the uncertainty of border closures was having a huge impact on businesses in these areas, but also those throughout the Riverina and MIA.
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"NSW border towns will not survive another year of random, rushed state border closures," Mrs Dalton said.
"It's urgent the federal government take the lead in putting some rules and protections in place."
This is something Mrs Dalton called for early in the new year, with the push now growing as a result of the politicians all joining forces together.
The NSW government closed the border with Victoria between July 2020 and November 2020, while the Victorian government then shut the border again on New Year's Eve.
This has meant border towns have faced around 39 weeks of effective lockdown and restricted movement, despite there being very few COVID-19 cases in these regions.
"While we support sensible evidence-based restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus, we are concerned about the impact of ad hoc state government border closures on rural communities and businesses," the joint letter reads.
The letter requests National Cabinet develop national guidelines on when a state border should be closed; an agreed definition of a "border bubble"; a list of agreed border closure exemptions; agreed timeframes for processing of border permits; federal resources to ensure border checkpoints and helplines are properly staff and; a phone app that gives clear information on border closures.
