Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has implored that the Queensland Premier reconsider the current border zone, following the closure of the Queensland border on Saturday.
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Mr Marshall last week slammed the closure, requesting that the designated border zone be changed prior to the new restrictions coming in on Saturday, August 8.
Yet to receive a response from the Queensland government, Mr Marshall has again written to Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk, requesting that the border zone be reconsidered along Local Government Area boundaries rather than postcodes - specifically to include the Inverell, Tenterfield, Moree Plains and Gwydir, local government areas.
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"I have written again to the Queensland Premier, imploring her government reconsider the current definition and scope of its 'border zone', which is hurting hundreds of local residents who rely on entering Queensland for basic and essential health and education services and for work and groceries," he said.
"While I absolutely understand and respect the Queensland government's desire to protect its state and citizens from the deadly virus, our region is not Victoria.
"Our region's communities, which share the border with her state, have no active COVID-19 cases - and haven't for three months now."
Mr Marshall has received dozens of calls and emails from border residents who will be impacted by the closures and encourages anyone else who will be affected by the closure to get in touch with him.
"I thank the more than 150 border residents who have taken the time to email and phone me over the weekend to explain how this closure is already impacting their ability to conduct business and access to essential and emergency health and education services," he said.
"It is clear the actions of the Queensland government will also needlessly impact on many agricultural businesses, which are fast approaching harvest and are riding on getting an income this year following the prolonged years of drought.
"For those who are having difficulties with the new 'hard border', please send me an email to northerntablelands@parliament.nsw.gov.au so I can continue to put them before the Queensland government in the hope that some small changes will be made."
