UPDATE: The border between Victoria and New South Wales will be shut on Tuesday night as COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in Melbourne.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The dramatic decision was reportedly made at an early morning hook-up between Premier Daniel Andrews, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday.
Mr Andrews is expected to announce the border closure at a press conference at 10.45am on Monday.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The border is expected to close at midnight on Tuesday.
It will be the last state border to close in Australia, following the remaining states that have remained closed for weeks.
Twelve Victorian postcodes and nine public housing towers have been put into lockdown in order to prevent the spread of the virus in the state, which now has 2536 confirmed cases.
EARLIER: NSW opposition leader Jodi McKay wants the border between her state and Victoria shut immediately.
A surge in cases from hotel quarantine in NSW and the start of the school holidays in the state prompted Ms McKay's call for a hard border closure.
Such a move would create mayhem for Albury-Wodonga.
"NSW and Victoria must work together and as all options are considered, prudent and reasonable arrangements will be needed for our border communities," the state Labor leader said.
"Until now I have supported the Premier's decision not to change NSW-Victoria border arrangements.
"But school holidays are now underway and the NSW Government's actions so far to prevent infectious arrivals in our state have been inadequate.
"The NSW Premier has steadfastly refused to re-examine border arrangements as the Victorian situation worsens.
"However a closure needs to be considered and on the table while the spread is not contained."
There were 14 coronavirus cases reported in NSW on Sunday and all were overseas travellers in quarantine in Sydney.
Albury councillor and Labor Party member Darren Cameron disagreed.
"I don't agree with it. It is impractical," he said.
"If it were to be done arrangements would have to be put in place for communities along the river such as Albury-Wodonga where a large portion of residents live in one state, but work on the other.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"I'm also worried about fire affected communities, many of whom are relying on visitors in these school holidays to get their economies up and going again."
"Whilst it would not be ideal, we will be guided by the Chief Medical Officer's advice and the Premier's department," he said.
"We are all in this together and need to do what is necessary to avoid further outbreaks in NSW and more importantly our border communities."