Dozens of Canberrans stranded at NSW border await answers

"Our first and foremost priority is to stop the spread of the virus in NSW and I don't think anyone would begrudge us for being cautious when people from a highly infectious state are trying to make their way through NSW," she said.

"I can't apologise for putting safety first in NSW and I won't."

However, Deputy Premier, and Member for Monaro, John Barilaro said he was confident the solution would be announced soon. But, he would not provide any detail of what the plan might be.

Despite the ACT government offering to provide a police escort for cars stuck at the border, Ms Berejiklian said she was concerned people would still have to stop on the way.

"It's not just about the escort, it's about making sure that wherever they stop is done in a way that's safe and keeps residents safe," she said.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Monday said he hoped a resolution could be reached within hours.

However on Tuesday afternoon he warned a resolution was not likely before Friday, when NSW typically updates its public health directions.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Monday said he hoped a resolution could be reached within hours.

However by Tuesday afternoon he warned one was not likely until Friday at the earliest, when NSW typically updates its public health directions.

Asked whether he felt ignored by the NSW government, Mr Barr said he would not get in a "public slanging match" with the premier.

"I fully appreciate all of the challenges and all of the circumstances they have to address," he said.

"This experience is regrettable and unfortunate, particularly for those people who had made plans with authorised permits."

Canberrans trapped on the border between New South Wales and Victoria say they have been told different things about when they might be allowed to move.

An email from ACT Health on Saturday said: "If you wish to travel by car, you must cross the VIC/NSW border prior to 12.00 midday on Tuesday 11 August 2020. If you wish to enter the ACT after this date, you will have to fly".

But an email on Sunday said: "Unfortunately we are yet to hear anything from the NSW government. Please be assured that we will advise you all as soon as we know more, but it is unlikely to be tonight."

And then on Monday: "The issue may still take a few days to be resolved, and suggest that if you are in Wodonga or the Wodonga region, that you find some accommodation for the coming days.

"We understand that the continued uncertainty may be causing some distress."

Mr Barilaro suggested Canberrans had plenty of time to get home, given NSW flagged plans to close the borders on Wednesday.

But Greg Robinson - one of the people caught by the border closure - said the announcement made no reference to people with NSW transit permits.

Mr Robinson said he was moving to Canberra with his partner who was due to start as a critical healthcare worker in a Canberra hospital, which is why they were able to get permits to enter the ACT.

He said the couple had a fully-loaded car so they couldn't fly.

Their permits were approved almost instantaneously when they applied on Wednesday - the same day the NSW announcement took place.

"If the above announcement applied to transit permits too, why was my transit permit approved the same day?" Mr Robinson asked.

He also questions why NSW did not advise him until 10.19am on Friday that they needed to transit through Sydney Airport, if the department had his details since Wednesday.

"Every day we're delayed here delays the start of our quarantine in Canberra, which in turn delays her start at the hospital," Mr Robinson said.

Mr Barilaro said on Tuesday morning a solution was "imminent" after the NSW government was accused of "dragging their feet" in finding a resolution.

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"It's very simple to sit here and say it's not difficult to resolve, and we know the process and the protocols we can put in place, but we've got to make sure it's correct and it's within the jurisdictional power that we have," he said.

Mr Barilaro defended his government's snap decision to change border rules.

"We take the responsibility for the millions of people that are NSW citizens," Mr Barilaro said.

"It's not as easy as a test that says you're all right today, off you go.

"Pop into the local servo, pop into the local Maccas or the grocery store on the way through, infect a few more people and then see ... a crisis in regional and rural NSW.

"That's not acceptable. We are working to that solution and that solution is imminent."

Mr Barilaro said there was "jurisdictional issues" with the ACT's proposed plan to have ACT Police escort Canberrans home.

"The NSW Police Force are more than happy to deal with the issue and have the resources to do so."

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As disappointed Canberrans continue to wait at the border, a handful of MPs received an exemption to drive from Victoria to Canberra at the weekend, after new rules came into effect on Friday.

Mr Barilaro said he was not aware of the circumstances surrounding those exemptions but "on the surface, it's not acceptable to treat one class of citizen any different to anyone else".

"If these MPs were given special treatment to cross the border, at the same time we're denying ACT residents, well those residents should be upset and I don't think it's acceptable," he said.

Liberal MP Tim Wilson was among the politicians who drove from Victoria to self-isolate in the ACT for 14 days ahead of parliament's next sitting day.

On ABC's Q&A on Monday night, in response to a question from one of the stranded Canberrans, Anne Cahill Lambert, he said the situation was unacceptable.

"I do know that when I ... drove up from Victoria over the weekend there was cancellation of our permits as well. We were able to get them reissued within time to cross the border," he said.

"I do consider this to be completely unacceptable and that fact there are vulnerable people and people who could be used to control this pandemic and assist and aid others and they're stuck in limbo at the border I think is unacceptable."