Archive, Industry News

States continue with border crossing rule changes

Queensland in contact tracing developments; SA has range of adjustments

 

In what the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) describes as “incredibly short notice” Queensland changes contact tracing border requirements overnight for effect on July 10.

Subject to the changes, the concept of free-flow of freight remains as does that of essential worker, just with more requirements.

Some of the changes are for essential activity generally, rather than freight-specific.

One of those relates to contact tracing and mandates that essential workers:

  • keep and retain written records of close contacts – within an enclosed space for a period of 2 hours or within 1.5 metres of the other person for a period of 15 minutes or more – for a 14-day period starting on their date of arrival in Queensland, or, if they remain in Queensland for a period of less than 14 days, for that period
  • provide the records to an emergency officer (public health) if directed by an emergency officer (public health) or to a contact tracing officer
  • minimise contact with the community for 14 days
  • to the extent reasonably practicable, practice social distancing including by remaining at least 1.5 metres from other people.

Records required are the name and phone number and email address of the close contact and the day, time and location at which the close contact occurred, or, if the name and phone number or email address are not known or it is not reasonably practicable to obtain them, the day, time and location at which the close contact occurred.

“Fleets need to ensure their drivers understand their responsibilities,” the QTA advises.

“For those managing distribution centres, depots, yards please take particular note of the quarantine requirements and ensure your practices meet the standards required by this order.”

The full Border restrictions Direction (No. 8) can be found here.


Read about the planned new freight travel permits in NSW, here


South Australia

The new Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 8) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 is in force in South Australia and exempts people from states and territories other than Victoria, NSW and  the ACT and anyone who has visited those regions in the previous fortnight.

As in Queensland, ‘essential travellers’ must keep a record of close contacts for 14 days and with similar requirements on what close contact means.

Those in commercial transport and freight services, other than those who are ordinarily resident in Victoria, must minimise time spent and distance travelled in other jurisdictions.

They  and must not, without the approval of the chief executive of the Department for Health and Wellbeing, the South Australian Chief Public Health Officer or a deputy Chief Public Health Officer, enter a disability care, correctional or residential aged care facility or  health care facility unless for  medical care.

Though it advises members to seek their own legal advice, South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) analysis is that heavy vehicle drivers entering from Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW ACT and Tasmania do not have to self-quarantine while in SA

Drivers from Victoria may enter SA as Essential Travellers (Schedule 2) for the purpose of performing duties, functions or activities specified in that Schedule but they must:

a. comply with the self-quarantine requirements under Schedule 3 (see point 5 below) at all times when they are not:

i. performing those duties, functions or activities; or

ii. travelling to or from the place at which they are performing those duties, functions or activities

b. wear a surgical face mask (covering mouth and nose) in South Australia when coming into contact with the public.

Self-quarantine requirements mean the person:

(a) identifies a suitable place and ensures arrangements are in place for them to reside and remain in that place for a 14 day period commencing on the date of their arrival in South Australia; and

(b) having identified a suitable place, travels by the most direct practical route and means to the place; and

(c) upon arrival at the place, resides and remains in that place, self-quarantined and segregated from other persons, for the period beginning on the day of arrival and ending at midnight on the 14th day after arrival into the State; and

(d) remains at the place, except—

(i) for the purposes of obtaining medical care or medical supplies; or

(ii) in any other emergency situation; or

(iii) for any reason approved in advance by the State Co-ordinator or his delegate or an authorised officer; and

(e) takes reasonable steps to ensure that no other person enters the place unless that other person usually lives at the place, or the other person is also complying with self-quarantine requirements, or for medical or emergency purposes.

SARTA advises operators to maximise use of Nhill change overs and minimise access to Melbourne and encourages drivers to take advantage of the Covid-19 testing being provided by PathologySA.

“If cases of Covid-19 transmission by SA HV drivers coming back from VIC emerge, we can expect a tightening up of the conditions,” it says.

Meanwhile, SA Police notes that it has received an unprecedented number of Cross Border Travel Registrations since the new process began.

“Consequently, we are currently experiencing a delay in application processing times, and wish to advise that all Cross Border Travel Registrations will be processed as quickly as possible,” the force says.

The new SA direction, including border road closures and related documents can be found in full here.

 

 

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend