South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, along with Governor of South Australia Hieu Van Le, visited various border checkpoints today.
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Over the past seven months, police and Australian Defence Force personnel have braved tough conditions in the hopes of keeping South Australia safe from a COVID-19 outbreak.
Commissioner Stevens said the reason behind the visit was to thank the hard working men and women on the front line.
The Dukes Highway border checkpoint was one of four locations that were visited throughout the day, with crossings near Renmark, Naracoorte and Mount Gambier also on the commissioner's list.
With countless vehicles leaving and entering South Australia on a daily basis, many of the state's border checkpoints experience a high level of traffic.
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"This one (Dukes Highway), Pinnaroo and Yamba are probably the busiest ones (border checkpoints)," Commissioner Stevens said.
He also praised the ongoing hard work being displayed by South Australian police officers and Australian Defence Force personnel.
"In this current situation where we have to verify people's credentials we have this ongoing responsibility, and I have to say, with effort that has gone in, we wouldn't be as effective as we have been without the Australian Defence Force helping us," Commissioner Stevens said.
"I am also very proud of the work that the police are doing on the checkpoints, they are dealing with ordinary people who are in a extraordinary situation."
Governor of South Australia Hieu Van Le was eager to speak to the personnel working at the checkpoints, as well meet with some of the present cross-border community members.
"We are both pleased to get out of the office and be able to spend time with the people who are doing all the hard work on the front line," Commissioner Stevens said.
This is the fourth time a checkpoint visit has occurred over the past seven months, with each visit allowing for an opportunity to thank those working under difficult conditions.
"We've had people working out here when it has been below zero degrees, driving rains coming in sideways and we are probably not far away from extremely hot weather as well," Commissioner Stevens said.
"Our police officers and the Australian Defence Force are doing 12 hour shifts - they are virtually working, sleeping and working.
"I like to get out as often as I can to visit them and see how they are going and understand the work that they are doing from a direct point of view, rather than back from my office."
Cross-border community members who visited the checkpoint were able to voice some of their concerns about current restrictions and how the regulations affect their everyday lives.
"The rules do change, and we are hopeful that the changes we are making to the rules are actually relaxing those restrictions so people can have more freedom of movement across the border," Commissioner Stevens said.
"We are very concerned about cross-border communities, it really impacts on people's lives.
"I don't get to speak to many people from Victoria, so opportunities like this are really good. I hear first hand what they are dealing with.
"I do speak to South Australian communities that are affected in the same way, and I have done that quite a bit."
Commissioner Stevens said the beneficial border visits have allowed him to see first hand what type of impact the restrictions have had on cross-border community members.
"This is really about connecting with the people who do that hard work on the front line, but it certainly does inform your views on process and the impact of our rules on different parts of the community," he said.
"It's really good information for when we are having those discussions about the restrictions we put in place or how we lift them."
Despite residents from Victoria dealing with arguably the toughest year they've ever experienced, it hasn't stopped many from showcasing their unbelievable generosity.
Cross-border community members from both states have consistently gone out of their way to make sure army and police personnel have felt at home during their long shifts.
Commissioner Stevens praised the kindhearted nature shown by countless residents during this unprecedented time.
"The support we have had from the community is humbling - it's firewood, it's food, it's cakes, it's gloves, it's scarves and beanies, all these different things," Commissioner Stevens said.
"The relationship between the police and the community has gone up notch because of this."
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