NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was unapologetic on Tuesday when asked to explain why her government quashed the transit permits for dozens of Canberrans with little warning.
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"Our first and foremost priority is to stop the spread of the virus in NSW and I don't think anyone would begrudge us for being cautious when people from a highly infectious state are trying to make their way through NSW," she said.
While the ACT government has offered a police escort to shepherd Canberrans back to the territory, Ms Berejiklian said there was still a risk COVID-19 could be transmitted during rest stops and is still insisting travellers return to Melbourne and fly.
"I can't apologise for putting safety first in NSW and I won't," she opined.
Ms Berejiklian failed to make mention of the Victorian MPs who'd journeyed through NSW over the weekend to get to Canberra ahead of the August 24 sitting without incident. Let us hope none of them stopped to stretch their legs at the Dog on the Tuckerbox on the way.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said he would not be drawn into a slanging match with the NSW Premier when asked about the glacial pace of the negotiations on Tuesday.
"We have engaged cordially with the premier and we've been working Health Minister to Health Minister, Chief Health Officer to Chief Health Officer to find a way to be able to bring these people home safely, to the satisfaction of the NSW health authorities.
"I would hope that we could continue our active diplomacy in relation to the proposed solutions we've brought forward, noting that it is ultimately a decision for the NSW government and there is an alternate pathway home for people."
If this is active diplomacy, Chief Minister, perhaps it is time to try another tool in your belt.
NSW authorities have serious questions to answer about the ad-hoc manner in which this decision was made and implemented.
When Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the snap decision to close the Sunshine State to NSW and the ACT last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was incumbent on Ms Palaszczuk to be transparent about the medical advice she received to prompt her to do so.
We would make a similar appeal to Ms Berejiklian as this border crisis stretches on for another day.
Why is it that the NSW government feels it is more dangerous to let stragglers pass over the border than it is to send people to Melbourne - the epicentre of Australia's current coronavirus wave?
Why is it safer to have people sleeping in their cars with all their worldly possessions, waiting for days on end for a solution, instead of accepting the offer of a police escort?
Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said on Tuesday he hoped NSW and the ACT could work out an arrangement which did not involve sending people via Melbourne.
"I think as a general principle, [it's] not a good idea to get people to go to places of high risk when they don't need to do so," Professor Kelly said.
