New South Wales and South Australia have signed a deal to improve government services for the communities who live, work and do business across the state border.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) includes commitments to enhancing long-term collaboration in areas such as health, workforce, agriculture, road safety, and policing.

People in border towns regularly cross state lines for everyday essentials, from hospital appointments and emergency care, to schooling, work, childcare, TAFE, policing and moving freight.

The MoU supports state agencies to work together more effectively on cross-border challenges, to help prevent duplicated processes or delays.

The MoU in place with South Australia lays the foundation for further work to help ensure:

• Families can more easily enrol children in the closest school or TAFE.
• There is better coordination on apprenticeships, licenses and vocational qualifications.
• Red tape is minimised for freight and transport operators, making supply chains more efficient.

This agreement also gives border residents greater confidence that issues affecting their towns will be escalated, coordinated and resolved by government agencies in both states.

NSW’s inaugural agreement with South Australia comes alongside its renewed MoUs with Queensland, Victoria, and the ACT.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said, “This is a step forward for the people who live along our border with South Australia.

“This agreement brings our governments closer together to better address issues affecting our cross-border communities.”

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said, “I welcome this important agreement between our respective Cross Border Commissioners, building on the work already underway to strengthen collaboration between our states to support cross border communities. 

“Regional border communities and industries can come up against unique challenges and it’s crucial their needs are heard and addressed so that they have what they need to grow and thrive.”

NSW Independent Member for Barwon Roy Butler said, “Many Far West communities in my electorate rely on South Australia for urgent health responses, specialist care, educational opportunities for the pastoral communities and strong relationships for industry. A strengthened NSW-SA border agreement would be beneficial to many in this part of the state.

“Covid times certainly showed us that there is a need for better arrangements for cross border exchanges. I will work with the Mayor of Broken Hill to convey the need and see this as a detail to be improved.”

NSW Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton said, “We need to keep making life easier for residents who live, work and access services in South Australia.

“I am pleased both governments have committed to working together to help these regions.”

South Australian State Member for Stuart Geoff Brock said, “This partnership is a strong step forward and it will go a long way towards progressing the needs of our cross border communities.

“It will help governments and service providers work together and identify any barriers for economic development in the region.”