Desperate to secure a permit that will be crucial to accessing work, school and more, Border people attended Service NSW in person on Tuesday.
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But their persistence was to no avail, with staff directing them to an online website.
Signs displayed in the window of the Service NSW Albury office advised those queueing: "Currently cross border permits are not available.
"When they are made available they will be online only."
Border residents were directed to a landing page for applications, but more information about the process was yet to be given.
State Member of Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said in a media statement it was understood people could apply online on Tuesday afternoon.
She said border communities on either side of the river depended on each other, and that was why the NSW government had not defined "essential workers".
"I recognise this is going to create hardship and frustration for our border communities, but I know the resilience of my constituents along the Murray will shine through once again," she said.
"NSW is doing this in good faith but make no mistake this does not give people a leave pass to travel to Melbourne and then think this permit will let them enter NSW."
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