Victoria treating western Sydney as 'second-class citizens' over tennis players: mayor
A mayor in Sydney's west has claimed residents in his local government areas are being treated as 'second-class citizens" by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who has blocked them out of the state.
Fairfield City has not had a single case of coronavirus in almost three months but remains included in a list 10 Sydney LGAs "red-zoned" by the Victorian government.
Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone accused Mr Andrews of an "over-reaction" and double standards, as tennis players and officials from around the world have flown into Victoria for the Australian Open, with some testing positive for coronavirus.
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People in Sydney wear face masks as they stand in a line inside a shopping centre. Some LGAs in Sydney remain 'red-zoned' by Victoria. Getty
"It is quite clear that it seems that if you hold a tennis racket these days, it has a lot more power than having an Australian passport," Mr Carbone told Today.
"I don't want Western Sydney to be treated as second-class citizens."
Thousands of Victorians have been stranded in New South Wales after Mr Andrews closed the border with its northern neighbour, following an outbreak on Sydney's Northern Beaches over Christmas.
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Initially 25 Sydney LGAs were red zoned, but last night that restricted group was reduced to 10.
People who live in Blacktown City, Canada Bay City, Burwood, Canterbury Bankstown, Cumberland, Inner West, Liverpool City, Fairfield City, Parramatta City and Strathfield municipality can still not travel to Victoria.
"He's locked out his own residents from his own state," Mr Carbone said.
People in Sydney's orange zones can enter Victoria if they obtain a permit and get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours of arrival, and isolate until returning a negative result.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian had earlier criticised Mr Andrews for allowing international visitors into the state while continuing to lock Sydneysiders out.
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