AN interstate vaccine passport would not hinder the cross border movement of residents along the Murray River.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Indi MP Helen Haines on Thursday that if a vaccine passport eventuated border bubble rules would protect those living near the edge of states.
The politicians met in Canberra on Thursday after Dr Haines asked the PM in parliament on Monday about the proposal which will be considered by national Cabinet next week.
"The take home message is that I've got his assurance that border communities would continue to be able to live and work in a border bubble without having a vaccine passport," Dr Haines said.
"That's a really good win and it's crucial the border bubble prevails and that no matter whether you have had the vaccine or not you are free to travel in the border bubble."
Dr Haines had expressed concern a vaccine passport could have sparked the return of checkpoints along the Murray River.
She said businesses and residents raised that fear.
A spokeswoman for the PM confirmed Mr Morrison had said a border bubble would shield residents from a vaccine passport.
The passport has been proposed by the Australian Medical Association as an incentive to boost vaccination.
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Dr Haines said the latest Victorian lockdown "came as no surprise" but "of course we're deeply, deeply disappointed we're back in that situation".
Liberal member for Albury Justin Clancy is hopeful his party leader will not close the NSW border to Victoria.
"The NSW Premier has been quite clear, saying that border closures are certainly something that are very much only for the last resort, that NSW wouldn't be seeking to close the border," Mr Clancy said.
When Premier Gladys Berejiklian shut the border last July, Victoria was reporting hundreds of cases each day.
Mr Clancy said he did not believe there was a threshold figure to shutdown.
Indigo Shire mayor Jenny O'Connor said a statewide lockdown was unsurprising, given the high number of Melburnians travelling.
"We've been seeing a big increase in tourism to our area, so this is a real blow," Cr O'Connor said.
"We were starting to see a recovery but we must accept the health advice and avoiding a COVID outbreak (in the region) is a priority."
