Border MP Bill Tilley tells parliament that NSW bosses are choosing not to hire Victorians due to COVID lockdown

Benambra MP Bill Tilley told the Victorian Parliament on Friday of that predicament during a speech opposing the state government's push to extend its state of emergency powers until December.

"We're getting employers now saying, from NSW, we're not going to employ Victorians," Mr Tilley said.

He added that lockdowns were no way to create jobs and confidence in an economy.

Albury Northside Chamber of Commerce chairman Barry Young was not aware of such instances but noted Just Jeans and some stores in the Centrepoint shopping centre could not open during this week's Victorian lockdown because of staffing issues.

He said the home state of workers "would certainly be part of your thinking now in terms of employing people".

Business NSW Murray Riverina regional manager Anthony McFarlane said the lockdown showed the need for cross-border unity on the definition of 'essential worker' and role of the Border bubble.

In his speech, Mr Tilley shared some of the stories of personal hardship about the five-day lockdown that had been relayed to his office.

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They included a cancer sufferer dying without his extended family and another having to abandon her tests as well as a lawn trimmer losing three days trade after previously not qualifying for sole trader assistance offered by the Victorian government.

Mr Tilley later told The Border Mail of a message he had received from an IVF patient who been due to travel to Canberra for an embryo transfer after having already been delayed 12 months when an appointment for March 30 last year was cruelled by the initial lockdown.

"I had my daily blood tests to make sure the timing was optimal, then the news of lockdown hit, not just for Melbourne, but all of Victoria, including areas that have never seen the virus," she stated.

"The result was another deferment.

"So now I'm hurting and I'm angry.

"My heart is broken."