![Flashback: A border closure in January which affected tourism in Yarrawonga-Mulwala. Flashback: A border closure in January which affected tourism in Yarrawonga-Mulwala.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/XJLgPnEdnKaFugZzKyL6Sw/3f2e532a-9e1c-4f4a-9af0-ea7a61d8dfb6.jpg/r0_283_5544_3696_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A LACK of direct funding in the NSW state budget to help embattled tourism businesses which suffered through border closures has irked the region's industry leader.
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Treasurer Dominic Perrottet handed down the budget in parliament on Tuesday with a focus on "accelerating our recovery" from COVID-19.
At one point in his speech he noted "border closures have hurt thousands of people whose livelihoods depend on tourism".
However, there was no bespoke help for the Murray River tourist sector, which has lobbied for more aid given the impact of Victorian border closures on the industry.
Murray Regional Tourism chief executive Mark Francis said a proposal for help had been put to member for Albury and government MP Justin Clancy.
"It is disappointing considering the amount of work and evidence-based research that has gone on around this issue and then to see that omitted it is disappointing on behalf of our industry," Mr Francis said.
Mr Perrottet did highlight tourism assistance for the state capital.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"Because we know the Sydney CBD is still doing it tough our accommodation sector support kicks off in July and will offer $100 to spend on Fridays in the city to stimulate recovery for small businesses," he said.
Mr Francis said given that focus he could not see why help for the southern border could not be outlined.
"The Sydney CBD has been impacted but we need to recognise they're not in isolation and our region has been significantly impacted for a longer period of time, albeit the scale of Sydney is larger to the value of the economy,": he said.
![Not seeing the light: Mark Francis would have liked NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet to deliver specific funding to help southern Riverina tourism businesses. Not seeing the light: Mark Francis would have liked NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet to deliver specific funding to help southern Riverina tourism businesses.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/XJLgPnEdnKaFugZzKyL6Sw/1a259190-b172-4110-8c10-3686d1d980ec.jpg/r0_106_4786_3180_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Mr Francis said tourism operators north of the Murray were "feeling forgotten" and the budget would reinforce that feeling, particularly as their Victorian counterparts had got some help from their state government.
"That's something I will be following up with the Treasurer," he said.
"We spoke in the last (parliamentary) sitting week and I didn't have an expectation it would be a separate budget line item."
Mr Clancy added that "I'm not reading into that that it's not in the budget papers per se", suggesting funding could come through Service NSW expenditure or $15 million allocated to cross border support.
He described the budget being "all about bedding down a safe and strong recovery, bettering the nation's best services and driving growth into the future for a better quality of life".
Mr Clancy cited $1.96 million for upgraded and new social housing in his electorate and the continuation of a free preschool program as highlights.
Every preschooler will also receive a $100 voucher for swimming lessons as part of the budget.