Media Release

22 September 2020

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Shadow Minister for the North Coast Adam Searle and Labor Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin are urging the NSW Government to give businesses along the NSW – QLD border a fair go and deliver the same $45 million assistance package that they rolled out along the southern border with Victoria.

Ms Saffin has repeatedly asked the NSW Government to deliver a similar program to help small businesses across Northern NSW that have been affected by the Queensland border closure.

Ms Saffin said: “Communities across Northern NSW are crying out for a relief package from the Government to support the local economy, keep businesses open and keep people employed.

“Communities in the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands have had such a tough time this year. First with drought, then bushfires, and then the border closure. They shouldn’t be left to deal with this on their own.

“If the Government’s relief package was good enough for one community – why not extend it to other regions that are doing it tough?”

“The Government cannot be allowed to ignore the people of the North Coast or try to pass the buck when it comes to looking after these communities” — Adam Searle, Shadow Minister for the North Coast

“People living on the northern border are NSW citizens. The NSW Government has a responsibility to look after them” Mr Searle said.