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Concerns Grow As Victorians Are Allowed To Travel To NSW Without Mandatory Hotel Quarantining

Concerns Grow As Victorians Are Allowed To Travel To NSW Without Mandatory Hotel Quarantining

Around 200 people are arriving into Sydney Airport every day from Melbourne.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Calls are growing for Victorians travelling to New South Wales to be placed in mandatory hotel quarantine and be treated like any other international arrival.

At the moment, Victorians are allowed to cross the border with NSW or fly into the state without having to go into mandatory quarantine. They are told to self-isolate for two weeks, however it's not enforced.

Officials have been doing thousands of door knocks and business checks to ensure people are complying with the stay at home orders.

But around 200 people are arriving into Sydney Airport every day from Melbourne and it's sparking some concern.

PA

Due to the growing number of new coronavirus numbers in Victoria, the NSW government is under pressure to change the arrangement they have with the arrivals coming from the south.

The State Opposition leader, Jodi McKay, said people from Victoria were 'another Ruby Princess' waiting to happen and that NSW should treat 'Victoria no different from...any other part of the world'.

"We have a situation in New South Wales where the land borders have been closed, but the same restrictions have not been applied to our air borders," she said.

"We are seeing flights come in on a daily basis. There are hundreds of people coming into Victoria from New South Wales who we trust are isolating in their homes for two weeks."

However, the state's Health Minister says the proper systems are in place to ensure everyone coming from the south has a proper reason to do so and there are checks before and after arrival to validate they aren't sick.

ABC News

"There are only limited reasons anyone from Victoria should be entering NSW and people have been turned back despite being allowed on the plane in Melbourne," Brad Hazzard said at a press conference.

"I know there has been commentary about 'why don't we have quarantine in the same way we have for international travellers?'. That was set up for a reason and that is we need all international travellers to be able to be managed here and we have done that successfully over some months.

"What we're finding with most of our visitors into our state, returning travellers, if they're asked to self-isolate, they do."

He said that only people arriving without a valid reason or permit would be referred to NSW Police before being taken to 'Special Health Accommodation' for two weeks.

Health authorities say there has been an overwhelming compliance with the rules and that's why they haven't chosen to tighten rules over Victorians coming across the border.

Melbourne has been placed into Stage 4 lockdown for six weeks as the rest of the state tries to grapple with triple-figure daily coronavirus infections.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Australia