The Liberal and Nationals Government has announced an updated freight code, with streamlined COVID-19 measures for freight operators.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the changes would help keep the country functioning as it should.
“With many Australians currently experiencing lockdown, one of the most important things we can do is ensure families can continue to reliably source the things they need, like food and basic goods, in a safe manner,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Freight workers are well and truly amongst Australia’s most vital workers, helping to feed families and communities, keeping businesses functioning, and underpinning a strong economy,” he said.
“We need to keep our truckies, train drivers and other freight industry workers, their families and our communities safe and well while they continue their vital work,” he emphasised.
Related: Freight workers become vaccination priority group in QLD
The update comes after industry criticism over the previous eight different sets of rules on testing for freight workers.
“Under the revised National Freight Movement Code and Protocol, discussed at today’s National Cabinet meeting, freight workers crossing state and territory borders are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result in a rolling seven-day period,” he said.
In some cases, workers may also need to be tested more frequently depending on particular requirements in South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia, but today’s agreement means more than half the jurisdictions will be following a single, simple approach to testing.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the updated code’s streamlined set of rules across jurisdictions will ensure freight can move efficiently and testing is as consistent as possible, which the transport sector has been urgently calling for.
“We want to ensure the transport industry continues the great work they have done throughout the pandemic, while carrying out vital freight activities to keep supermarkets stocked and other goods moving in the safest way possible,” Assistant Minister Buchholz said.
“This is also why I am encouraging all freight workers to get vaccinated as soon as you are eligible, to help protect your community, and I commend those transport operators who are assisting with the vaccination effort within the sector,” he said.
He continued that states and territories are also standing up additional testing facilities along key freight routes, intermodals and hubs to assist freight workers to more readily access testing facilities, in line with AHPPC advice.
“These streamlined testing rules complement all the COVID-safe practices our freight workers already comply with to help keep the community safe, like social distancing, using masks and hand sanitiser, and checking in to assist contact tracing,” he concluded.
Source: The Hon Barnaby Joyce media release