COVID-19 – Essential guide to borders

Latest updates courtesy of NHVR

The renewed outbreak of coronavirus in Victoria and subsequent spread into New South Wales has prompted significant changes to border requirements across Australia.

Victoria

From 11.59pm Wednesday 22 July, there will be changes to restrictions across Victoria to help reduce the risk of the COVID-19 spreading.

  • Anyone in the Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire must wear a face mask when in public. This includes essential workers in the freight industry.
  • If a driver is travelling in a vehicle by themselves they are permitted to remove the face mask whilst in their vehicle.

The latest information on Face covering rules in Victoria.

Northern Territory

  • There are now no travel exemptions for those coming from a hotspot and you will not be allowed to enter the Northern Territory.
    • This includes essential workers in the freight Industry.
    • If you previously held an exemption to travel from a hotspot this is revoked immediately.
  • All of Victoria is also currently a declared hotspot.
  • The entirety of the Sydney metropolitan area has also been added to their list of declared hotspots.

Queensland 

All freight drivers are still able to travel into Queensland but are required to have a Queensland border pass that must be renewed every seven days. 

  • Local government areas of Liverpool and Campbelltown in NSW are declared coronavirus hotspots and travel from these areas is significantly restricted.
  • All of Victoria is also a declared hotspot.

All drivers must adhere to additional health regulations:

  • Self-isolate in truck or accommodation when not working
  • Keep records of close contacts for 14 days
  • Agree to be tested if symptoms develop
  • List of hotspots

New South Wales

NSW Health is urging anyone who attended the Crossroads Hotel at Casula between Friday 3 July and Friday 10 July to:

  • immediately self-isolate until 14 days after they were last there
  • attend a clinic for testing even if they have no symptoms
  • watch for symptoms and get retested should any respiratory symptoms occur
  • even if you get a negative test stay in isolation for 14 days.

Please note the information on this page is tailored to the transport of freight and logistics.

For information on general travel restrictions (car, motorcycle etc.) please refer to the Federal COVID-19 Restriction Checker Domestic Travel.

NSW has temporarily shut its border with Victoria to contain the spread of COVID-19.

If you’re travelling from Victoria to NSW, including carrying freight, you will need a COVID-19 NSW border declaration permit.

There are provisions in place for residents of border regions, such as Albury-Wodonga. See links below.

A new permit introduced 9 July 2020 seeks to rectify issues with the NSW entry permit (including requiring a NSW address).

Freight and Transport workers will still require the current critical services permit to enter NSW, but will not be held to account for any form of self-isolation.

Going forward, the freight industry will be excused from requirements to self-isolate, employers have a COVID-Safe plan in place.

Australian Capital Territory

A border pass required if entering the ACT from Victoria.

Freight and logistics operators must apply for an exemption at least 48 hours (wherever possible) before your intended travel date.

Transiting through the ACT for the purposes of freight is also an exempted purpose under the ACT Public Health Emergency Direction issued 8 July 2020.

South Australia

All truck drivers entering South Australia must apply online to enter South Australia. The new Online Essential Traveller Application is mandatory replacing the previous paper version no longer valid.

For your convenience, information about current border controls can be found using the information and links below.

Now is also a good opportunity for businesses to review their existing COVIDSafe plans. The National COVID‑19 Coordination Commission and Safe Work Australia have both released useful guidance material for developing COVIDSafe workplace plans.

Restrictions around business travel are still evolving rapidly. The following information summarises the current status for intra and interstate travel.

Important advice for your staff considering venturing out:

  • Call and make an appointment – Respect your customers’ own policies on visitors. Businesses will make their own decisions about opening their doors to face-to-face visit from suppliers, so make sure you call first – and make it easy for them to say no.
  • Continue physical distancing and hygiene practices – including avoiding shaking hands.

Please note: the advice recorded here was accurate at the time of publication. Use the links below to verify the current status.

Are the Borders Open?
ACT Yes (follow the link below for Victoria)
NSW Yes – Vic border closed – see links below
Northern Territory Border is closed
Queensland Border is Controlled
South Australia Border is Controlled
Tasmania Border is Controlled
Victoria Border is Controlled
Western Australia Strict Border Controls

Can I travel there for Business?
ACT Yes – except from Victoria
NSW Yes – except from Victoria
Northern Territory Border closed
Queensland Need Entry Pass
South Australia Pre-approval: Cross Border Travel Registration
Tasmania If you meet their definition of an “Essential Traveller”
Victoria Avoid if possible
Western Australia Only if your G2G Entry Pass is approved

Do I have to quarantine when I arrive in this State?
ACT No – except from Victoria
NSW No – except from Victoria (see latest news)
Northern Territory Yes unless Exempt – Changes 17 July
Queensland Refer to Entry Pass
South Australia Most likely unless exempt
Tasmania Yes unless Exempt
VictoriaNo
Western Australia Refer to your G2G Pass Conditions

Is there an Entry Pass?
ACT No – except for Victoria
NSW No – except from Victoria
Northern Territory Yes
Queensland Yes
South Australia Yes
Tasmania Yes
Victoria No
Western Australia Yes – G2G Entry Pass

Do residents of this State have to quarantine when they get home?
ACT No
NSW No – except from Victoria
Northern Territory Yes – mandatory
Queensland No – unless you’ve been to a declared COVID hotspot
South Australia Yes
Tasmania Yes
Victoria No
Western Australia Need G2G Entry Pass and then Yes

ACT covid19.act.gov.au/help-and-advice/travellers
covid19.act.gov.au/news-articles/act-border-restrictions
covid19.act.gov.au/news-articles/health-advice-on-covid-19-hot-spots-in-melbourne
NSW nsw.gov.au/covid-19/travel-and-transport-advice
service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-covid-19-nsw-border-declaration-permit
Northern Territory coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/domestic-travel
coronavirus.nt.gov.au/stay-safe/quarantine
Queensland covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/border-closing
South Australia covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations/cross-border-travel
– covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities/travel-restrictions
Tasmania coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/coming-to-tasmania
Victoria transport.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-disease-covid-19#freight
dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels-covid-19
Western Australia wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-wa

Template for your business COVIDSafe work plan

Make sure your business has a carefully considered a COVIDSafe work plan. This link provides a template to guide you through the planning process:


Download the COVIDSafe app

The voluntary COVIDSafe app is an important public health initiative designed to keep the community safe from further spread of coronavirus through early notification of possible exposure.

Get the app

Download on the Apple app store
Download on the Google play app store

More information:


Work health and safety guidance

Work health and safety guidance on COVID-19 developed by Safe Work Australia.

Here you will find advice on how to minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in your workplace and help limit the spread.  

To keep workers safe and limit the spread of COVID-19, every employer should do the following at their workplace:

  • allow workers to work from home, where possible
  • ensure physical distancing by keeping a distance of at least 1.5 metres between people
  • encourage all workers to frequently wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser and to practise good hygiene
  • be aware of how to spot COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath) and make sure workers do not come to work if they are unwell
  • make sure your workplace is regularly cleaned and disinfected
  • have signs and posters around the workplace to remind workers and others of the risks of COVID-19 and the measures that are necessary to stop its spread.

For more information, see the COVID-19 resource kit.


Employer Assist

HVIA Employer Assist partner Industry Legal Group guide :

If you require further advice, please contact Employer Assist on 07 3376 6266 or email hvia@employerassist.com.au


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