Christmas is fast approaching, and for many of us, that means travelling interstate to celebrate with family and friends.

After a long two years, people are looking forward to a summer of rest and recreation.

The Victorian Ombudsman’s report this week was a sober reminder of the uncertainty that continues to pervade our planning.

The investigation into the Victorian border closures rightly described the fiasco as ‘inhumane’ and ‘unjust’.

Throughout the course of the pandemic, numerous Mallee residents have contacted my office in distress over constantly changing border rules and the inability to gain an exemption.  Just 2,000 people gained an exemption from July – September 2020 when over 33,000 applied.  It was cruel.

A local couple in Buronga who were expecting twins needed family support for their toddler close to the due date, but the Victorian grandmother was forced to stay in a motel so she could ‘safely’ provide care for her grandchild, rather than the family home just 5 kilometres away.

Further south, Jeanette contacted me when her husband John was very sick with cancer. His complex care and deteriorating condition required treatment in South Australia, but this was opposed.

Earlier this week, she recalled feeling tired of fighting the border and exemption system every time she needed to take her husband for his oncology appointments or the care of his peg tube or his tracheostomy. In time it all became too hard. After John passed away, of course a very limited number of family members could attend the funeral.

This is why the Ombudsman called the treatment of Australians inhumane.  It was heartbreaking.

“Failing to exercise discretion fairly, not giving reasons for decisions, failing to offer a right of review – these can all damage public trust in those who make decisions, and ultimately, in government,” the Ombudsman rightly observed.

While our vaccination rates are some of the best in the world, the Premiers continue to hold power over our lives in unreasonable ways.

Currently, a fully vaccinated Australian can fly into the country without the need to quarantine. But a Victorian cannot transit to South Australia without an approved border pass, three COVID tests, isolation until a negative result is given, proof of vaccination and the state’s new health reporting app to record your live health status.

People want their lives back. People don’t want governments, like nagging parents, controlling their every move. Premiers need to stop their restrictive grips so that we can spend Christmas with our family – finally.