Page 2037 - Week 07 - Thursday, 20 August 2020
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The situation at the New South Wales-Victoria border was challenging for ACT residents, and the ACT government immediately engaged in discussions with the New South Wales government to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. While it took a few days, I know that those ACT residents waiting at the border were extremely relieved when an agreement was reached to enable them to return home.
On Thursday, 13 August we welcomed back the first group of ACT residents that had been stranded on the other side of the border. The conditions of travel, agreed with New South Wales, allowed ACT residents to cross the border at Wodonga between 9 am and 11.30 am and drive directly to Canberra, with one safety stop permitted at Gundagai, and check in on arrival at our reception centre at Hall by 3 pm before commencing their 14-day quarantine. Between 13 and 17 August, 120 ACT residents returned home via Wodonga and are now quarantining at their homes, or in hotels if their home situation is not appropriate for quarantine.
After 17 August, no other ACT residents have been permitted to cross the Victoria-New South Wales border by road, and the ACT government will not issue any further exemptions to drive to the ACT while the border is closed. Any ACT resident in Victoria who wishes to return home and has applied for an ACT exemption to enter after 17 August must reapply and request to travel by air into Canberra Airport.
I would like to remind ACT residents planning to return from Victoria that they must notify ACT Health of their travel plans at least 72 hours in advance, and they must be prepared to travel by air, and quarantine on arrival for 14 days. The ACT government’s advice remains that Canberrans should not travel to Victoria except for essential reasons.
Madam Speaker, the planning, preparation and work I have outlined have placed the ACT in a strong position. The ACT government is firmly focused on Canberra’s recovery plan, keeping the ACT free of COVID-19 to the greatest possible extent and preventing community transmission. While the ACT has been very successful in supressing the virus, we know there is still a long way to go for our country, and that the threat will not be alleviated in the short term.
The excellent cooperation of the community has allowed us to make some minor and cautious changes to assist a small number of businesses and activities to recommence under strict COVID guidelines. Step 3.1 of Canberra’s recovery plan commenced at 9 am on 10 August 2020. This change has allowed for the opening of food courts for dine-in, casinos and gaming in clubs, steam-based services and adult services. There was also some easing of restrictions in other settings, such as community sport activities; group bookings at bars, clubs and pubs; and the number of patrons at gyms and health club facilities when unstaffed.
This demonstrates that when Canberrans work together to stop the spread, we are stronger and better for it. However, it is also important that we do not let complacency set us back. I know that the community may be feeling a level of fatigue at this time. Unfortunately, the pandemic will not be over any time soon, so we need to keep up
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