Businesses bearing the brunt of tough border closure measures designed to keep coronavirus out of NSW are still waiting to learn what financial support will be forthcoming from the state government.
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On the two-week anniversary of the tighter NSW-Victoria border closure, Business NSW has ramped up pressure on Premier Gladys Berejiklian to follow the lead of her Victorian counterpart, Daniel Andrews and offer some financial assistance to businesses in regional areas of his state.
Mr Andrews has made $5000 available, but there has been no similar measure from the NSW government.
"Now is the time for some action," Business NSW regional manager Andrew Cottrill said.
"We're effectively the frontline for NSW's protection against coronavirus coming into the state.
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"Businesses, on behalf of the entire NSW community, are doing it tough making sure with this border closure there are no outbreaks.
"It is only fair there is some sort of recognition and support for those businesses."
"We know businesses are closing and we know more businesses will close unless we get some support from the NSW government," he said.
Member for Albury Justin Clancy was due to speak about the need for business support in the NSW parliament on Tuesday.
"I note this is day two of the wider, severe Victoria lockdown restrictions and details of their support package for business are already known in the border community," he said.
"This is day 28 of the NSW border restrictions and the same cannot be said.
"For all the faults Victoria has arguably had during the COVID crisis it has been quick to let border businesses know financial help is coming.
"I have confidence from my discussions that the NSW government will hear the calls of their people.
"But part of me asks why not today?"
The rising anger towards the NSW government coincides with the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party confirming it would be running a candidate in Albury at the next state election.
"If we've got a really good candidate I think we can give it a really good shot," party leader Robert Borsak said..
"I'm in regular contact with (member for Murray) Helen Dalton, who is getting a lot of complaints and basically tearing her hair out with what is going on.
"What I'm picking up is things are diabolical in Albury-Wodonga."