VIC-NSW Border closure highlights seriousness of challenge
The decision to close the NSW-Victoria border highlights the seriousness of the challenge in containing COVID-19.
The Accommodation Association, the industry’s peak body, said the joint decision between Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Prime Minister Scott Morrison to shut the border from midnight tomorrow was disappointing but understandable.
The Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions was responsible for the management of hotels being used for isolation purposes not the individual hotel operator from 3 June 2020. The Victoria Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Corrections are now responsible for those properties being used for isolation purposes not the individual hotel operator. This approach is consistent across other states and territories; management of all hotels being used for the isolation of international travellers is handed over to the relevant Department/s who run every aspect of these hotels.
Key stats:
- The Accommodation Association represents close to 3,500 hotels, over 150,000 rooms and nearly 100,000 employees across Australia and over 500 operators in Victoria.
- Accommodation contributes $17 billion to the Australian economy and $1.5 billion to the Victorian economy.
Quotes attributable to Dean Long, CEO, Accommodation Australia:
“A number of our member hotels were among the very first to come forward to State, Territory and the Federal Governments and hand over their facilities to be used to quarantine incoming travellers.”
“This was a decision each and every one of these hotels made in the interests of the public good and in recognition of the scale of the challenge facing Government, Health Authorities and our community. Our members continue to do all they can to support the various Departmental and Health Authorities who are running this quarantine accommodation.”
“While the decision to shut down the Victorian-NSW border is disappointing given we were all hoping life was getting back to normal, we understand and support the decision. We would also like to extend our thanks to those who are on the frontline battling the pandemic and working long hours to stop the spread and support those who have unfortunately been infected.
Accommodation Association, 6th July 2020
