From Wednesday 8 July 2020, strict penalties will be in place for anyone who breaches the new rules on the temporary NSW and Victorian border closures.
New measures will be in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Temporary border restrictions now include:
- road closures between the NSW and Victorian border
- aircrafts travelling from Victoria and arriving into NSW airports will be met by police and health staff
- NSW residents returning home from Victoria must self-isolate for 14 days.
Anyone who fails to comply with the rules could face up to six months prison, a fine of $11,000, or both.
There will be limited exemptions for people allowed to cross the border. This includes:
- critical service providers including agriculture and mining workers
- emergency services workers
- people requiring medical treatment
- children attending boarding school
- people needing to meet legal obligations.
Anyone who needs to enter NSW must apply for a permit from Service NSW.
A new on-the-spot fine of $4000 will apply for any inaccurate information provided in the permit application process.
Those allowed to enter NSW will need to comply with any conditions of an entry permit including self-isolation.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the NSW Government has moved quickly to implement the border closure following the concerning community spread of COVID-19 in Melbourne.
“There are around 55 border crossings between NSW and Victoria so closing the border is a mammoth task – but it is the right step to take in order to protect the health and jobs of NSW residents,” Mr Hazzard said.
Learn more about the NSW border restrictions.
