Kathy Gandolfi
THE timing of the opening of the borders may have been influenced by the upcoming State election in March, suggested Liberal MacKillop MP, Nick McBride.
Mr McBride made the suggestion last week when he was a guest at the monthly meeting of Wattle Range Council and addressed elected members on several subjects, including Covid-19.
“He wanted the problems in January… nothing like that in March,” Mr McBride said, suggesting that the border opening in November was hoped to get a forecast surge in problems associated with the expected peak in Covid-19 cases out of the way early so that it would be “as normal as possible going to March and beyond”.
“I was a big supporter of the borders being opened on the 23rd [November], and I still am today,” Mr McBride said acknowledging that it had caused problems in many industries but that the Omicron variant did not have the high hospitalisation rate of earlier variants.
“I support it… we have had enough of being locked down and we need to live with the virus.
“If that is the best way to do it, so be it.”
Following the meeting, The Border Watch sought clarification from Mr McBride and while he confirmed the suggestion he had made during the meeting he said he meant “they, being the SA Government, SA Health and Police” had to consider a number of influences to ensure that the election could be conducted in March in light of the effects of Covid-19.
A spokesperson from the Premier’s office, in a statement, said: “The South Australian borders were opened in line with the National Plan which South Australia was signed up to”.
“This plan outlined that once a jurisdiction hit 80 per cent double vaccinated, that State-wide lock outs would not be needed anymore.”
