Canberra is actually one of the safest places to be in the nation. Our record on containing cases, and on preventing fresh ones, has been exemplary. The ACT has gone months without one new case of the virus.

Queensland, which has emerged as the most high profile intractable border closure player because of the number of cross-border communities with NSW, certainly can't say the same. That said, there are signs that after some pretty fierce criticism on a wide range of a fronts in recent weeks this hard line could be softening. The emergence of opposition within Queensland itself to some of the less than compassionate decisions that have been made has undoubtedly contributed to the process of reassessment that now seems to be taking place.

NSW, despite its own opposition to the Queensland border closure, proved to be a less than perfect neighbour by stranding an estimated 100 Canberrans on the wrong side of the Victorian border for almost a week for no good reason not that long ago.

To return to South Australia however, the significant concession has been the recognition by that state's police commissioner that the ACT is more than just a land-locked fiefdom encapsulated within NSW.

While it won't be possible for Canberrans to travel to South Australia by road, as that would involve an extended period within NSW, they are more than welcome as long as they arrive by plane, and can attest that they have not been into NSW - and that includes Queanbeyan, Jerrabomberra, Murrumbateman, and Yass - for at least 14 days.

It is very important for all people considering taking advantage of the newly reopened border to ensure they comply with this requirement.

One irresponsible person would be enough to spoil it for everybody else. Locals learnt that lesson the hard way when a Sydneysider used the Canberra airport as a backdoor into Queensland a few months ago.

The Chief Minister, who has worked hard on the issue of border closures since the outbreak of the second wave, is right to be pleased about the success of the efforts made by himself and others. It is to be hoped his prediction that "some of the other states will watch this closely and be encouraged by South Australia's move" turns out to be correct. It will also be good to see planes taking off from the Canberra airport and heading west.

Who knows? It may only be a matter of time before Canberrans can travel back and forth between Tasmania and the Northern Territory as well as to NSW and South Australia. While Queensland may move on borders before Christmas, Western Australia is still playing its own game.

The good news on the border front is doubly welcome in that it comes at the same time as the decision by the Andrews government to ease restrictions in regional Victoria, and a tacit admission by other states - including South Australia - that NSW has done a sterling job in controlling outbreaks caused by people returning from Victoria.

While the situation is still far from perfect, with long suffering Melburnians likely to have to live under rigid lockdown regulations for quite a few more weeks yet, it is better than it was. If all goes well there is reason to hope that all the nation's borders will have reopened by early in 2021.