Confusion was caused this week when Prime Minister Scott Morrison said a "100-kilometre zone" had been set up in Victoria so more people could cross into NSW.
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But the comments were not a signal that the tough border restrictions were being eased.
Mr Morrison's office has clarified he was actually talking about changes made last week to allow Victorian agriculture workers to cross the border without going into quarantine.
Indi MP Helen Haines asked in Parliament on Monday what Mr Morrison was doing to resolve the "border crisis".
"I welcome, following the direct representations that have been made by the Commonwealth, including by the minister for agriculture, me and other ministers, the NSW government extending a 100-kilometre zone in Victoria, which ensures that there can be greater movement coming out of Victoria into NSW to access those important job opportunities and medical care," he said.
The Prime Minister's office told The Border Mail on Tuesday this was in reference to changes made last week to allow Victoria agriculture workers living within 100km of the border to cross if their services were not otherwise available.
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Dr Haines has written to Mr Morrison asking him to correct the record because "sadly, no such zone with exemptions for workers and medical care exists".
She said his answer to her question in Parliament "wasn't good enough".
"I was underwhelmed by his response," she said.
"He didn't say what he'd do to end the crisis."
Mr Morrison had told Parliament that state borders should only be applied when "health advice absolutely demands it", but backed the decision of the NSW government, saying that during this pandemic, "that is regrettably the case".
Mr Morrison had told Parliament that "restrictions that have been put in place also involved a border commissioner being established to ensure that issues could be worked through as they arose".
NSW cross-border commissioner James McTavish was appointed in 2014 and his Victorian counterpart Luke Wilson in 2018.
The Prime Minister said state borders should only be applied when "health advice absolutely demands it", but during this pandemic, "that is regrettably the case".
"I know particularly Victorians in western and northern Victoria are frustrated, as there are no cases in those areas of the community, but it is necessary for those borders to be in place so we can get past this Victorian wave," Mr Morrison said.
"I look forward to when those borders can come down not just there but when it's safe to do so all throughout the country."
