THIS time last week, I was discussing changes that had been made to SA's border restrictions a day earlier, and lamenting the poor communication that accompanied the scrapping of the SA-Vic border buffer zone.
And as much as it's a welcome result for the cross-border community, I didn't imagine that just seven days later, I'd be writing about the government pressing the 'undo' button and bringing back the buffer zone.
I'm reminded of a catchy song from my childhood - 'you put a buffer zone in, you take a buffer zone out, you put a buffer zone in' - only in this version of the hokey pokey, people's lives are being 'shaken all about'.
While the harsh border blockages implemented on August 21 lasted just a week, the mental anguish and emotional toll the decision has had is immeasurable.
Many people will be left wondering what the point of introducing the drastic measures was. In hindsight, how many people would say it was worth it?
But let's remember that two weeks ago, COVID-19 was spreading through Melbourne at an alarming rate, and cases were also increasing in Western Vic. Our decision-makers had to try and predict the future, knowing people would need notice if the border was to be shut even tighter.
Related reading: SA ag calls for special cross-border permit
As we've been reminded during this pandemic, predicting the future is almost impossible. Had Melbourne's lockdowns failed and coronavirus cases continued to grow exponentially, who knows where we'd be in SA without a tough border stance?
Thankfully, this scenario hasn't eventuated so far, and case numbers have dropped to the point our health authorities are feeling confident enough to reverse the August 21 changes.
I can't help but wonder how many cross-border residents have the same air of confidence. While most will welcome Tuesday's decision, how can they all be confident that the state government won't make the same move again if Vic's situation worsens?
An agricultural permit system has the potential to give the sector the confidence it needs. People deserve to have confidence they'll be able to run their businesses, tend to their farms, pick up supplies and keep the supply chain flowing.
Agriculture has been considered essential throughout this pandemic, but a permit would cement this status and eliminate any uncertainty each time states change their restrictions.
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