Over the weekend we have seen increasing new cases of COVID-19 around Australia.
State and territory governments have moved quickly to implement local restrictions, and some local government areas have gone into hard lockdown.
To assist members, below is a brief breakdown of what’s happening around the country. In this context, NatRoad wants greater consistency in the rules and permits for freight. We are one country and there should be one freight pass for all workers who are keeping the country running.
NatRoad is calling on all levels of government to work in cooperation to deliver a “national” or standardised border permit for the road freight industry that will permit truck drivers to transport freight across all state borders. This permit should be separate to the border permit schemes introduced by individual states in response to COVID-19 outbreaks elsewhere. NatRoad throws out this challenge to all members of the National Cabinet as a call to demonstrate that they can support a key industry by coming to an agreement that is in the best interests of all Australians.
Travel Between States and Territories
All states and territories have some level of border restrictions in place. Links to the border permits for each state and territory can be found on NatRoad’s website here.
Queensland
Late on Sunday, Queensland Health released a list of more than 20 exposure sites in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
No parts of Queensland are in lockdown, although authorities there are closely monitoring a cluster linked to the Portuguese Family Centre.
The wearing of face masks is mandatory in Noosa, the Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Somerset.
New South Wales
Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour started a two-week lockdown at 6:00pm on Saturday 26 June 2021.
ACT
From midnight Sunday 27 June 2021, masks must be worn at indoor venues, including shops, cafes, gyms and on public transport.
Victoria
On Sunday, Melbourne Airport was added to Victoria’s list of exposure sites, with people advised to “get tested urgently”.
Victoria declared the Greater Darwin area a red zone, effective from 8:00pm Sunday. The region joined Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour in New South Wales as red zones.
Greater Brisbane, the Perth metropolitan region and the Peel region of Western Australia were designated orange zones from 1:00am AEST Monday, June 28.
They join the ACT and the rest of New South Wales, excluding “border bubble” communities, as orange zones.
South Australia
South Australia has closed the state’s borders to Queensland, WA, the ACT and the NT.
The following roads are prescribed for any person entering South Australia from:
- New South Wales by road:
- Wentworth-Renmark Road, Calperum Station (outside Renmark)
- Barrier Highway, Oodla Wirra
- Northern Territory by road:
- Stuart Highway, Marla
- Western Australia by road:
- Eyre Highway, Ceduna
Northern Territory
Greater Darwin entered a 48-hour lockdown on Sunday, as the Northern Territory faced what Chief Minister Michael Gunner said was the territory’s biggest coronavirus threat to date.
Checkpoints are being set up on major roads to ensure people comply with the lockdown that applies to Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield local government areas.
Western Australia
From midday Sunday, new restrictions were imposed on the Perth and Peel regions for at least three days after a person tested positive for COVID-19.
Tasmania
Tasmania has shut its border to travellers from Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Wollongong.
