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Health | October 06, 2021

Border brokers missing in cross-border residents’ time of need

Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has pressed the Andrews Labor Government to release details of its Border Brokers as cross-border community members try to cope with yet another escalation in already-onerous border rules.

On Sunday, the South Australian Government announced it would shrink the Victorian-South Australian border corridor in response to a case in Mount Gambier, from a person who reportedly contracted COVID in Casterton and remained in the community for the duration of their infectious period.

However despite later clarifying that the case had not originated in Casterton, cross-border residents’ lives and livelihoods remain in chaos because the South Australian Government has not amended its border directions, and the Victorian Government and its Border Brokers have provided no support or advice on exposure sites or risks to the community.

Ms Kealy raised the issue in Parliament today and called on the government to immediately ensure that Border Brokers are available to all border community members who were battling with the current rule changes.

“This is precisely the type of situation where the Border Brokers are needed the most, yet they are nowhere to be found,” she said.

“The government announced this service almost a month ago, but we still don’t know who these people are and we have no way to contact them – aside from an email address which was published on a government website late on Tuesday.

“There has been no promotion of these brokers beyond the initial government media release.

“Our cross-border communities are hurting, and facing immense hardship.

“I urge the Minister for Regional Development to ensure that these Border Brokers are immediately made available to all border community members and that the names and contact phone numbers of these brokers are provided to the community immediately.”