23 September 2021
MEDIA RELEASE
NORTHERN RIVERS MPS UNITE TO SEEK TEMPORARY PROTECTION FROM SYDNEY "70 PERCENTERS"
The five NSW MPs representing the Northern Rivers have joined forces to ask the NSW Government to protect the region from a predicted influx of city "70 percenters" when Sydney reaches the Government's double vaccination target before the regions.
The Nationals' Chris Gulaptis (Clarence), Geoff Provest (Tweed) and Ben Franklin MLC as well as Labor's Janelle Saffin (Lismore) and the Greens Tamara Smith (Ballina) have for the first time ever jointly written to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her Deputy, Nationals Leader John Barilaro.
"We are really concerned that, without policy changes, our region will suddenly become deeply vulnerable to a major influx of newly freed Sydneysiders, while we are still short of the 70 per cent safety target," the MPs write.
"This apprehension is shared by locally based medical professionals we have consulted as well as the broader community.
"We cross party MPs recognise that we are all in this together.
“We therefore ask you to adjust public health orders to prevent this happening, by restricting non-essential travel to the North Coast until it too has reached the milestone."
The MPs describe their request as a "good health policy" which would give city dwellers a chance to say thank you to the regions for their support during Sydney's darkest hours over the winter by redirecting some of their vaccine supply to HSC students.
