Moree mayor Katrina Humphries is asking the shire's residents to reconsider their relationship with Queensland, in light of the hard border closure.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With Moree Plain Shire residents being "heavily impacted" by the "unmanageable restrictions" imposed by the Queensland government as a result of the tough border closure, Cr Humphries said now might be the time for people to make some tough calls about their business with the sunshine state.
"We have to work out a way of living with COVID-19 for the time being and sadly for Queensland it appears they do not want or need our long time and fruitful relationship to continue," she said.
"None of us need fair weather friends and most importantly we need to be able to function to the best of our ability."
Cr Humphries asked shire residents to instead look to NSW for healthcare, schooling, business and travel.
READ ALSO:
"With a heavy heart I wish to ask our community some very relevant questions," she said.
"Is the time coming for our families to start pulling their children out of Queensland schools? We have a basic human right to be able to see our kids, with border closures our accessibility to our kids is non-existent, and is this good for families? Anxiety levels are enormous not only from the parents but also from the students.
"Has the time come for our northern NSW residents to seek medical services in NSW? At a time of uncertainty should we be making arrangements for our health needs to be catered for in NSW as urgent health treatment has no warning.
"When it comes to planning limited breaks, and we all need them, look at NSW areas. We can move freely with good planning and abiding by COVID-19 management rules, so plan for a break in NSW.
"We have a bumper harvest coming (God willing) and if our markets in Queensland are unreachable perhaps the time is coming to prepare to sell to NSW-based companies so we can keep our cash flows happening.
"We are very fortunate to have options for now, and these questions need to be asked, talked about and very sadly possibly enacted on."