NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance says the “madness” on border closures needs to stop as hundreds of Victorian residents are prevented from returning home.
There are nearly 3,500 exemptions which are being processed for Victorians wanting to return home, while only 295 exemptions have so far been granted.
“I think in many ways at the moment it’s a human rights issue that you can’t return to your own premise in Victoria,” Mr Constance told Sky News host Chris Smith.
“In many ways it’s easier to get back from the UK to Melbourne than it is if you’re in a caravan on the South Coast in New South Wales.”
Mr Constance said it is known via information from Transport for New South Wales that “a hundred Victorians a day are being turned around at the border and told to stay in New South Wales”.
“Ultimately this madness has got to stop,” he said.
“When you’re seeing these sorts of numbers there’s no real justification for borders to be closed.”