Cross Border Community Members are encouraged to reapply for Essential Traveller status with a new direction seeing their current status suspended from Friday 21 August 2020. This means further restrictions will apply to people wishing to enter South Australia from Victoria.
From this Friday the Cross Border Community category will only apply to:
- agricultural and farming workers with properties within 40 kilometres of the border,
- students completing years 11 and 12 (and those providing transport to and from school).
"This measure has been taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19 into South Australia from Victoria, where there are approximately 7,500 active cases," said State Coordinator, Commissioner Grant Stevens.
"The intent is to protect South Australians as COVID-19 cases are being detected in the western districts of Victoria, with active cases in the Glenelg Shire, as well as Horsham and Warrnambool.
Cross Border Community Members currently represent approximately 1,000 border crossings from Victoria to South Australia each day.
If a person currently has the Cross Border Community Members status they can re-apply to be an Essential Traveller under another category which includes:
- National and State Security and Governance;
- Emergency Service Workers (SA Health approved);
- Commercial Freight and Transport;
- Urgent Medical, Dental, Health (SA Health approved);
- Compassionate Grounds (SA Health approved);
- Specialist workers in Essential Sectors.
If you do not meet criteria of an Essential Traveller you will no longer be able to enter South Australia from Victoria. South Australians are strongly advised not travel to Victoria.
"Despite strict border controls the likelihood of the disease being introduced into South Australia from Victoria remains very high, we hope limiting cross border travel further will assist
in limiting the number of cases in our state."
This not only applies to Victorian residents coming into South Australia for work, shopping, school etc, but to South Australians who travel to Victoria for such activities.
South Australian residents are strongly encouraged to apply and receive approval prior to travel. If a South Australian resident leaves the State and travels to Victoria without an Essential Traveller status, they will not be permitted to return.
Make sure when applying for Essential Traveller Status you have proof and a good description of why you need to cross the border. This will assist police in reviewing your application.
"Changes to this direction take into account the current situation in rural Victoria where there are Stage 3 restrictions. They will be continuously monitored until the risk in Victoria is reduced at which time these restrictions will be lifted," Commissioner Stevens said.
Rules for Cross Border Community Members in New South Wales remain unchanged.
Although the Cross Border Direction came into effect on Friday 14 August 2020, these changes will be enforced from 0001hrs on Friday 21 August 2020. Essential Traveller applications can be made on-line at https://www.police.sa.gov.au/online-services/cross-border-travel-application
