RWTA EO Message - SA, QLD & NSW Border Update
UPDATE for Friday 10th July 2020 for SOUTH AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND AND THE NEW SOUTH WALES BORDER
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australia has issued an updated Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 8) (COVID-19) Direction 2020, effective from 12:01am, 9 July 2020.
This Direction requires commercial transport and freight drivers who usually reside in Victoria to:
wear a face mask when interacting with the public in South Australia;
maintain records of close contacts; and
self-quarantine in South Australia when not undertaking work related duties (You may quarantine in your truck or alternatively other private arrangements provided you are segregated from others.
Transport workers who enter South Australia in the conduct of their duties are not required to self-quarantine, but are required to complete a cross-border pre approval form.
SA authorities encourage specific questions about personal circumstances to be addressed to the dedicated SA information line - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days on 1800 253 787.
QUEENSLAND
From 12:01pm today, Friday 10th July, freight operators entering Queensland are required to complete a Queensland Border Declaration Pass. This is a new requirement.
The declaration will require drivers to state whether they have been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the previous 14 days. Please note that Queensland defines the entire state of Victoria as a hotspot.
Being present in a hotspot does not prevent drivers from carrying out their essential work and entering Queensland.
Queensland authorities will not physically stop trucks at the border, however they will conduct random spot checks. Authorities have advised freight and logistics providers are not required to quarantine - see Schedule 2 (6) of the Border restrictions Direction (No. 8). However, a person entering Queensland for an essential activity (including transport of freight and logistics) must:
keep and retain written records of close contacts for a 14-day period commencing on the date of arrival in Queensland, or, if they remain in Queensland for a period of less than 14 days, for that period; and
provide the records to an emergency officer (public health) if directed by an emergency officer (public health) or to a contact tracing officer; and
minimise contact with the community for a period of 14 days; and
to the extent reasonably practicable, practice social distancing including by remaining at least 1.5 metres from other people.
NEW SOUTH WALES
The NSW Government is creating an additional permit to support critical freight and logistics workers to cross the Victorian border with NSW. This permit will allow people within the freight and transport industry to travel between NSW and Victoria for the purpose of their duties, providing their employer has a COVID-19 Safety Plan. They will not be required to quarantine.
The NSW Government has commenced the development of the new permit, which will be live through Service NSW by close of business yesterday the 9th July. COVID-Safe plans and guidelines to assist the industry are also available to align with this additional permit at www.nsw.gov.au/covid/covid-safe-businesses
