THIS BORDERS ON INSANITY

THE inconsistency on border closures state by state is wearing thin among confused Australians. Adding fuel to the fire is the way in which sports stars and celebrities seem to be able to bypass rules while ordinary Australians are exiled from home or separated from their families.

There needs to be national consistency on what is classified a coronavirus hot spot and how it should be treated with regards to travel.

Federal health authorities have said there are currently no hot spots in Australia. Yet each state still imposes its own set of border restrictions.

In Tasmania, Victorians can now travel freely. People visiting from Greater Brisbane and Greater Sydney, however, still have to quarantine.

Western Australia is open to Tasmania, South Australia, ACT and the Northern Territory. Travellers from Victoria may enter WA but must quarantine for 14 days.

Yesterday thousands of Victorians were granted permission to return home from NSW after Premier Daniel Andrews downgraded 25 of 35 Sydney local government areas from “red” to “amber” zones.

But that still leaves Victorians in the other 10 local government areas, mostly in Western Sydney, stranded and unable to return.

It’s impossible to follow.

Given we watched Victoria fail to control a second wave of coronavirus, it’s understandable governments are cautious.

But it’s still hard to fathom why other Australian states fail to follow the lead of NSW, which has shown time and time again that its test, trace and isolate strategy is effective at managing outbreaks.

Adding insult to injury for stranded Victorians is the fact that 1000 tennis players and support staff from across the world have been allowed to enter the state.

There are now nine cases from the arrivals, and 72 players have been confined to their hotel rooms unable to practise or train for the Australian Open.

The situation sparked world No. 1 Novak Djokovic to write a list of requests to Tennis Australia, urging tournament director Craig Tiley to improve conditions for players, including shorter isolation periods, better food and permission to quarantine in private houses with tennis courts.

Predictably, Australians have shown little sympathy for the stars and their very presence appears to be generating deep resentment.

Premiers across the country have always insisted they are following medical advice but it seems to be entirely at odds with that of Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly declaring there are no hot spots in Australia.

The premiers have had their time in the sun on the question of border closures; it’s now time for them to come to a national agreement on how to handle this issue for the good of all Australians.