FEDERAL Member for Mallee Anne Webster said the South Australian border needs to be opened to medical specialists as a matter of urgency.
SA Premier Stephen Marshall announced that the borders would remain closed until July 20, which Dr Webster said was continuing to put the health of people in the Mallee at risk.
"Medical specialists that operate in Mildura, who are largely fly-in-fly-out, have been restricted to remain in South Australia due to border closures. This is unacceptable," she said.
"Radiographers, general and orthopaedic surgeons, dentists, an ophthalmologist, and an ear, nose and throat specialist, have all been barred from entering Victoria, restricting access for locals to essential procedures."
Dr Webster said although the border closures served a legitimate purpose at the beginning of the pandemic, there had not been a single case of COVID-19 in the Mallee electorate for over a month now. "These border closures have served their purpose, but they have now reached their expiry date – the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, and the Chief Medical Officer, have made it abundantly clear that there is no reason for the borders to remain closed," she said.
"The only purpose these border closures are now serving is that of highlighting the inequity of healthcare service provision between metropolitan centres and regional communities."
Dr Webster said she had spoken to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt about the issue, and said more pressure needed to be brought to bear on state Premiers to heed the national advice, and remove these restrictions on medical professionals.
"It's disheartening, that when restrictions like these are negatively affecting regional communities, State Governments have allowed large protests to take place in capital cities where the virus has been most active," she said.
"Everyone in Australia has a democratic right to protest, and the sentiment surrounding the current movement, and the need for discussion and change, is real. However, protesting and gathering en masse at a time like this is irresponsible, and risks the progress we have made to flatten the curve.
"Australians have been amazing and it has been at a huge social cost; they have given up attending funerals, weddings, and birthdays. They gave up meeting with friends and family. They've given up sport and community activities. It's time for people in Mallee to stop having to give up access to healthcare because some states won't listen to the advice of the Chief Medical Officer."
She said while it was good news that the border would open on July 20, action was needed now.
"We urgently need the borders opened to medical specialists to allow them to provide the treatment and procedures to patients in our community," Dr Webster said.
