NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro would like to see his state's Victorian border fully opened by Christmas.
The Nationals leader made the comment while visiting Albury on Thursday to meet with mayors and figures from the education, health and business sectors about the impact of restrictions.
Mr Barilaro defended the closure which occurred last month, saying the situation with COVID-19 cases warranted the shutdown.
However, he said now was the time to review it and pointed to a trigger point for a full lifting.
"If Victoria's numbers continue to decline and we can get them under 100 in the next few weeks I would argue that the border should be lifted and you could almost lift the restrictions this side of Christmas," Mr Barilaro said.
"I don't believe we should be having the border closed anywhere beyond this side of Christmas.
"Queensland have decided it will be December, but I believe that is because the Premier of Queensland is working to an election timetable, not to a COVID timetable."
In the short term, Mr Barilaro said it was important for a "reset" of border restrictions and threw support behind the proposal of member for Albury Justin Clancy and member for Benambra Bill Tilley to have free travel between those two MPs' electorates.
"I completely support Justin's position on that, it was no different to the position I took up on the Queensland border," Mr Barilaro said.
"I'd like to see the bubble extended right down to Ballina because we know the impact that is having on services, on industry, on businesses and I want to see the same thing down here.
"Clearly there is now a time to reset and that would mean resetting the bubble and lifting restrictions, so Justin is on the right track.
"I'm confident if he thinks it is a good idea, guess what it should be a good idea."
Mr Barilaro was then asked about the preparedness of Premier Gladys Berejiklian to support it.
"I am a fighter and I will make sure that I represent the views of what is happening in rural and regional NSW," he said.
Mr Barilaro said students who were suffering "mental anguish" were his first priority among those needing remedies to the border woes.
"My view is that we should lift the border in a clean way and a seamless way for students to traverse back and forth, to get back to family and not to have to go through a permit system and not have to go and self isolate," he said.
"That would be my No.1 priority, the mental wellbeing of these students, especially those who are facing their HSC exams.
"Post that it is about also...our doctors, our specialists to make sure we can continue to service this region."
Mr Barilaro conceded there had been communication problems with the rollout of restrictions and tipped an assistance package for border businesses would be announced by Ms Berejiklian by the end of this week.
