As you are aware, our landscape changes rapidly under the current circumstances and AFRA – the industry regulator – has finally received a copy of the updated NSW Public Health Order (COVID 19 Border Control) Order 2020.  We note that the order refers to critical services rather than essential services.  As part of the transport industry we are still captured within that definition.

VICTORIA

As you are aware the VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT has announced the return of stage 3 STAY AT HOME RESTRICTIONS for greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire from 11.59pm Wednesday the 8th of July 2020. Details below;

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/updated-restrictions-1159pm-wednesday-8-july

It is anticipated that stage 3 restrictions will be in place for the next 6 weeks and will be reviewed at that time.

In summary, residents are permitted to leave their home for the following purposes only:

• Shopping for food and essential items
• Care and caregiving
• Daily exercise
• Work and study, if it cannot be done from home.

Residents must stay at their principal place of residence. Travel to other residence e.g. holiday home, is not permitted.

Some areas regional border towns such as Albury/Wodonga will be considered a “local bubble” and permits will be required to travel between these towns.  Reasons for permitted travel across these “bubble zone” borders are limited to:

• Shopping for food and essentials
• Care and caregiving
• Work and study, if it cannot be done from home.

Essential services are permitted to continue operations subject to COVID 19 distancing and safe work practices and directions under any Government order.

Road Closures NSW/Vic border.

• Roads/border crossings will be classified as tier A, B, or C crossings. Hume Highway is Tier A.
• NSW returning residents will need to fill out permit paperwork, so self-isolation rules can be enforced
• An easier exemption/permit will apply for Victorians in border communities
• Exemptions can be applied for from early this evening
• First 72 hours it is expected that border crossings will likely take longer
• There are 650 police heading to the border, and 100 defence personnel (to increase to 350 by the weekend)

Currently, restrictions in regional Victoria have not changed (except for travel into Melbourne).

South Australian border closures

Further to the Victorian border closures SOUTH AUSTRALIA has just announced that ALL NON ESSENTIAL TRAVELLERS FROM NSW,ACT AND VIC WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

From 00:01 am Thursday 9^th July 2020 following will apply for travel across the South Australian border:

• When entering SA as an Essential Traveller HV drivers will have to Quarantine for 14 days when NOT performing their essential traveller work. On return from interstate drivers and offsiders will need to self-quarantine when they are not working in an essential service industry and there is no work for a period.  E.g. if an employee returns from a delivery to Melbourne and no work is available for 3 days on return they will need to self-isolate until such time as they are required to work again.

• All Essential Travellers will have to use PPE and practice social distancing when interstate.
• Only South Australian non-essential travellers will be allowed into SA.
• Any non-essential travellers from NSW, ACT and VIC, WILL NOT BE allowed to enter SA.

ACT border closures for travellers from Victoria

From 12:01am on Wednesday 8 July 2020, the ACT will be closing its border for anyone travelling into the ACT from Victoria, unless they have an exemption to enter.

The news article on the ACT Government website states that exemptions will be only be granted in exceptional circumstances, including undertaking essential services work. This is not defined further.

Exemption requests are to be submitted to COVID.Exemptions@act.gov.au, and need to have the following details:

• An explanation of your need to travel to the ACT
• Name
• Date of birth
• Home address
• Phone number
• Email
• Travel details (flight number, by car etc)
• Date of entry to ACT
• Details of how long you intend to stay in the ACT
• Date last in Victoria
• Name and address of where you plan to stay in the ACT.

Urgent advice from the ACT Government has been sought to clarify information about how it plans to handle freight movements from Victoria to the ACT.

All businesses must have a COVID Safe plan in place in accordance with the 3 Step Framework from the federal government to operate.

Further information will be provided as it comes to hand.  Please do not hesitate to contact this office should you have any questions.