OUR SAY: Border anomalies look likely to be with us for a while yet

For years, licensed workers like plumbers, electricians and real estate agents have experienced the extra administration and oversight needed to be able to work in both Albury and Wodonga.

Geographically close, the southern Riverina and North East are often not aligned in what the NSW and Victorian governments require, leading to double-ups that do nothing but increase red tape for small business owners.

So it's pleasing to hear progress is being made through automatic mutual recognition of licensing, to come into effect on July 1 if it passes through NSW Parliament.

Indi MP Helen Haines cited how Dyson's bus services had two filing cabinets, one for Victorian regulation and one for NSW rules.

Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said AMR would make a difference in health and "almost every area of services, jobs and how our regional economies run".

"If you're a registrar and you want to practise in NSW and you come out of the Victorian system, at the moment, it's very difficult," she said.

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There is some irony in such progress being welcomed as the latest Victorian coronavirus restrictions have thrown up many other discrepancies.

Before the regional lockdown eased last week, Victorian students could attend their school in NSW, play sport with their mates at lunchtime, but then not join out of school NSW competitions.

Even the changed rules from Friday did not stop the NSW government from restricting Victorian border residents' access north of the Murray.

While playing sport was then permitted, watching sport was not, to the chagrin of soccer clubs like Myrtleford, whose contingent was greatly reduced on Sunday.

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Monday's announcement Victorian border residents would be exempt from the stay at home rules in the NSW border region was a welcome development, but further questions remain for those Victorians who work beyond the bubble or have medical appointments in Melbourne.

And although the Victorian government has announced a new regional support package for its tourist operators hurt by the lockdown, those just across the border feel they've been forgotten despite also being greatly disadvantaged.

It seems those border anomalies will be with us for some time yet.

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