Measures totally unjustified
Further restrictions to border residents and in particular the pending further draconian lockdown of Victorian school teachers and students, is totally unjustified on health grounds.
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There are no active cases in the region and there has not been one case of community transmission ever (unlike Sydney).
This is yet another impost on the border from Sydney bureaucrats and politicians who do not care and see no political consequences from what is done down here. This is a knee-jerk reaction to show Sydneysiders that something is being done to protect them.
Preventing Wodonga children from attending school in NSW in a very low risk region is not going to prevent a single case of COVID-19 from reaching Sydney. If anything, now that Melbourne is in stage four restrictions the threat across the border has lessened.
Perhaps the resources being used to police border residents could be better utilised in enforcing quarantine restrictions of the hundreds of people arriving in Sydney from Melbourne by plane each day.
Clearly the voice of Justin Clancy is not being heard in Sydney and I strongly believe that he has a duty to his constituents to resign from the Liberal party and sit as an independent, if this harsh and unjust measure were to go through.
Dr Russell Auwardt, Thurgoona
United we should stand
As a new resident of the Albury-Wodonga community it has been a real morale booster to see how everyone is working together to get sensible outcomes for the wider region as the impacts of government decisions on COVID bear down.
The radio stations, newspaper, the mayors and other community leaders are all coming together to play their role and send messages to governments that border communities are unfairly wearing the pain of poor decisions and actions in other areas. It is to be commended.
I have heard that businesses in the twin cities are facing 30 to 50 per cent downturns due to the current situation. It is heartening that our leaders are working collaboratively to achieve some sensible changes that can ease this burden.
As someone who has been advocating for a long time about the impacts of government decisions on small businesses in rural communities, I can reassure businesses that those small communities know your pain.
The implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan has many similarities. Small businesses and communities are trying to survive with 30 per cent less input, governments have made knee-jerk decisions without consulting with those impacted, and decisions are made from city offices where they don't come face to face with those who have been unfairly disadvantaged.
However, unlike the suddenness of COVID, the impacts of ill-advised water policy decisions have been taking place over many years. Already, thousands have lost their jobs. Farmers have walked off the land in despair, as politicians who do not understand water management support poor decisions, or refuse to demand change.
Unlike COVID, unfortunately we have not had a combined effort from all facets of the community to right the wrongs. So out of the present gloom, there are lessons we could learn.