In this exclusive interview, New South Wales Cross-Border Commissioner James McTavish reveals that he has been working closely with the Victorian government to have Victorians come back over the border; why unified rules haven't happened sooner; and why it's vital country papers keep the pressure on governments to communicate with their constituents.

Rob Duffield (RD): We'd like to confirm some cross-border rules, on each side of the river.

I'm a New South Wales resident, and many of my neighbours are unsure of what they are – and aren't – allowed to do.

Our paper, The Guardian, have also been running a campaign to have more clarity around the rules for each state.

For example, when I come into Swan Hill, where I work, I can get takeaway food or coffee, but I can't shop for anything else which isn't essential.

Reasons such as this are reasons why many people, including members of parliament, are calling for unified state rules.

James McTavish (JM): Yep – so from the perspective of NSW, if you're a Victorian resident, you can come over here and go to work.

You can go to the pub.

You can visit friends.

The only problem is; Victoria imposes restrictions if you want to return.

So if you want to relocate, you can enter NSW and just make an online declaration.

The only problem is that you wouldn't be able to get back into Victoria.

As it is, you can only get back into Victoria if you've come over for one of the five essential reasons – for essential goods and services, to provide care, for work, to get tested or vaccinated, and to visit an intimate partner.

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From the New South Wales point of view then, we would love to have people from come over and not have to give a reason, however it's when people trying to get back… they have to go into hotel quarantine.

We just think it's unnecessary.

We also keep an eye on places like Melbourne, like Shepparton – but we don't think all places should be imposing the same kind of restrictions.

In NSW, we have adopted a more balanced view of the issue. We are aware that the outbreak in Sydney has spread into other parts of regional New South Wales – however we've come to realise that it's an endemic disease, we need to learn to live with it rather than eradicate it.

But, there is a reason why we retain restrictions.

We are aware that there are still some sections of the population who are unvaccinated, or vulnerable communities.

We would like to see Victoria adopt a similar position – especially as there's no extreme risk of Covid in Southern NSW.

RD: So where do we stand on having unified state rules?

JM: The thing is, we put a proposal through National Cabinet around 18 months ago.

The problem is, the states couldn't agree.

So now there's different arrangements for New South Wales and Victoria, but also SA, Queensland, ACT, Northern Territory.

RD: What is the arrangement like with the Australian Capital Territory?

JM: So with the Australian Capital Territory, we have a defined border bubble.

But the reality is, the ACT has cases of Covid every day.

RD: What about the Queensland and NSW border, what lessons can we learn from there, in how we approach the Victorian and NSW border?

JM: The key difference is that Queensland currently doesn't have any cases, or at least has a very small number, compared to Victoria.

But in the North East, places like Byron, Murwillumbah – they don't have Covid.

It doesn't make sense to have Queensland shut them out.

In regards to Victoria, we've had our Deputy Premier (John Barilaro) informally write to the Victorian Health Minister (Martin Foley) to see if we can get a way out of this.

I've been also working with Luke Wilson (the Victorian Cross-Border Commissioner) and we've had quite a few negotiations.

Victoria needs to ease restrictions in collaboration with New South Wales.

We're still looking to have 70-80 per cent of our state fully vaccinated before we really ease restrictions.

But we would love to see regional Victorians return to New South Wales, and see golf resume in a place like Murray Downs.

RD: Well that's the thing, I live in Murray Downs – and I walk across the golf course, and I've never seen it this bad.

I know that there are club proprietors across the border who are going to extremes to just be able to talk to someone in government to draw attention to the issues they're having.

Many residents are worried about businesses proceeding, as they've been so hit.

Murray Downs, Tooleybuc, Euston – the whole club circuit is under pressure.

JM: I met with many of those clubs a few months ago, and with New South Wales, we come let you play golf, have a beer, sit down for a meal.

But Victoria doesn't let you do it – you wouldn't be able to get back home.

And you look at a place such as the Murray River Shire – it has such high vaccination levels.

There may still be a few cases around Balranald for example, but they're showing huge rates of improvement there.

RD: There's approximately 64 per cent of people in Swan Hill who have had their first vaccination.

JM: And that's on the rise – the level of risk is reducing all the time.

RD: But one of the biggest issues is this – communication.

The New South Wales government needs help communicating with regional communities on both side of the river, to make it clear about what we can and can't do.

JM: I absolutely understand that most people want to do the right thing – but with all the states bordering NSW, you have four different sets of rules (Victoria, Queensland, SA, ACT).

And, they change frequently.

One of the issues is that there's been this huge emphasis on Sydney, not so much on regional communities.

Which is why we need to get the message in country papers.

I know that for people who want to do the right thing, we're not making it easy.

RD: I know that when I tried to speak with the Premier's department in the NSW government, I was transferred to the complaints department.

The buck was passed.

But with the Victorian Country Press Association, I'm on the board, and we're planning to flag the unification of rules with the Victorian Premier's office.

JM: Go hard on it!

There's an estimated 800,000 people who live in a border community between New South Wales and Victoria.

Two million live along the border between NSW and other states.

One in 12 people live in a New South Wales border community.

And with communication, and with publicising the issue, it's good to get a view from a location which isn't always front and centre.