Over to you WESTERN ROADS FEDERATION by Cam Dumesny, CEO
LOCKDOWN CREATES SHORTAGES AND PROBLEMS were a risk of bringing the virus into Western Australia. Listening or reading the comments, it's clear many of the public do not realise just how dependent WA is on being able to transport food, medicine, and equipment from the East.
Inconsistent Rules
T
he locking down of Western Australia’s borders has certainly helped protect the state plus has helped drive up the WA Premier’s popularity with the general community. The border rules are generally working well, except that every time they change
the rules, chaos usually follows for a week or so.
Public Concern With the outbreaks of the virus in the East, WA talkback radio and social media went into hyper drive claiming truckies
Aside from the public concerns, the transport operators trying to supply the state, have to deal with every state having different rules. This made it incredibly difficult for those companies to move stuff into and out of WA. Take for example the company that brings in fresh produce to WA from Far North Queensland. They crossed through: • Queensland/ NSW border, • NSW/ Victoria border, • Victoria/ South Australia border • South Australia / Western Australia border • AND then do the same going back home
Freight border crossing updates
N
ational Cabinet has agreed to the Freight Movement Code for the Domestic Border Controls – Freight Movement Protocol. These will be implemented on a state by state basis. Each individual state had up until Monday 17 August to implement the protocol. The NHVR is encouraging all operators to commence as soon as possible implementing within their business a framework that will cover the “Enforceable Measures” outlined in the protocol. The governments have agreed on a more consistent testing system and easier access to testing sites. They have also agreed that interstate freight workers will be screened at pop-up testing sites on major interstate freight routes. The facilities will operate for extended hours that meet industry needs, with the capacity for 24 hour operation where practicable. Under the agreed code, testing will be free of charge. People with symptoms will be separated from people who do not have symptoms and just need a test to meet the border crossing requirements.
14
WATM • September 2020
The governments have agreed on a more consistent testing system and easier access to testing sites
Freight workers will not have to go into quarantine or self-isolation while they are waiting for the results of a screening test, unless they have symptoms or are a close contact of a known case. Testing sites will provide workers with evidence they were tested; the evidence will be recognised nationally. States and territories will mutually recognise each other’s COVID Safe plans.
Operators will just need to develop one plan on their home state’s template, not a separate one with the same information for each state. To read the code visit www.infrastructure. gov.au/vehicles/vehicle_regulation/files/ freight-movement-code-for-the-domesticborder-controls.pdf and for up to date information for Western Australia visit freightandlogisticscouncil.com.au
