| Murray operator demands rule changes

MURRAY River Paddlesteamers is demanding the federal and state govts make changes to pandemic-related legislation to help save the peak season for rural Victorian tourism operators.

The Vic State Government’s New South Wales Border Crossing Permit Scheme Directions allow NSW residents in the “border bubble” between the two states to travel anywhere in Victoria, but Murray River Paddlesteamers Director Craig Burgess is requesting the Vic State Govt to also allow Victorians to enter the NSW border bubble.

“We are calling on the Victorian Government to allow all Victorians to enter the approved NSW LGAs all along the Murray River,” Burgess pled.

“This simple decision will effectively save the summer holiday season for the tourism industry by allowing Victorians to stay on the NSW side of the river and enjoy all the attractions on both sides”.

“If it is fine for any NSW border bubble resident to travel to any destination in Victoria, including Melbourne, then why kill off the entire river tourism industry at the busiest time of the year by not allowing Victorians to enter the same area in NSW”.

Murray River Paddlesteamers explained the quick decision of the Victorian State Government to close its border with New South Wales has had enormous flow-on effects for tourism operators, which were only just starting to recover from the previous border closure.

As a result, many businesses that enjoyed a particularly good Nov and Dec will not qualify for JobKeeper from Jan through Mar, with Murray River Paddlesteamers calling on the Australian Government and Victorian Govt to implement a second JobKeeper test.

“The second test is the six-month period, Jul through Dec 2020…if this second test shows GST turnover to be down more than 30% YOY then the business qualifies for JobKeeper 3,” Murray River Paddlesteamers explained.

“The Victorian Government could easily implement this second test via Business Victoria and provide it as a top-up grant to tourism businesses which have been the hardest hit by the second closure of the Victoria/New South Wales [border].”

It is not the first time this week the line has tangled with the state, after MD Rohan Burgess slammed the state’s coronavirus hotline for allegedly misinforming Victorians they are currently forbidden from sailing on the Murray due to the pandemic.