Border communities are hurting and continue to bear the brunt of government-imposed border closures. Families are being torn apart, people's mental health is deteriorating rapidly and businesses are hurting. This could all be avoided. 

If the NSW government implemented a ring of steel around Sydney and contained the outbreak to affected areas, other NSW communities could continue to live in a COVID-safe environment. This would include border communities that rely on each other. These restrictions are hurting regional Victoria, regional NSW, and the broader economy. 

There have been no cases of COVID-19 in border towns recently. These measures are simply disproportionate. 

We urge Gladys Berejikliam to stand up for regional NSW and impose a ring of steel around Syndey so the rest of the state can continue on with their lives. And we urge Daniel Andrews to reconnect border communities and allow free movement for those who are not in COVID-19 hotspots.  

This Gladys vs Dan showdown needs to stop. This is not a game of politics - it's peoples' lives and livelihoods at stake.  

We are a year and a half on from when this pandemic started, have we not learnt our lesson? The border restrictions have detrimental impacts.