Industry calls for road transport testing and vaccination points

The ATA and its members are calling for the establishment of two national road transport industry testing and vaccination points.

“Recently we saw the example of two truck drivers testing positive in WA. They had completed a COVID test in NSW, but the results had taken three days to process,” CEO of Western Roads Federation Cam Dumesny said.

The proposal has recommended 24-hour COVID testing sites be set up at Port Augusta in South Australia and the NT Border control point at the Barkly Highway Roadhouse in the Northern Territory.

“These are just two points at which nearly all national east-west road freight movements must pass through, and would also protect the north-south route from Port Augusta to Darwin,” ATA CEO Michael Deegan said.

Executive Officer of the NT Road Transport Association, Louise Bilato said road freight drivers must have access to 24-hour testing facilities.

“There has been too much reliance on truck drivers getting COVID tests and vaccinations done in hospital and medical clinics that only take bookings 8am – 4pm on weekdays. It is increasingly hazardous,” she said.

SARTA CEO Steve Shearer said operating interstate road freight in the COVID era is a national challenge.

“It is essential that the Australian Government assists the states and territories by funding key vaccination and testing facilities that service interstate road freight drivers so we can continue to sustain the community and the economy,” Mr Shearer said.

From late October, freight, transport and logistics workers must have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to enter Western Australia from 'high' or 'extreme' risk jurisdictions, based on the latest public health advice.

Changes to the Transport, Freight and Logistics Directions under the Emergency Management Act 2005 will further protect this highly mobile workforce.

From 12.01am, October 24, transport, freight and logistics workers will need to have had at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to enter WA if they have travelled through a 'high' or an 'extreme' risk jurisdiction. These workers will need to be fully vaccinated within two months of their first dose, which means they must have received their drivers and rail support crew, where these employees are required to travel from or through a 'high' or an 'extreme' risk jurisdiction for work.

In addition to the mandatory vaccination requirement, these workers must also wear a facemask when in public, show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result or undertake a Rapid Antigen Test at the WA border and if they are staying in WA, they must comply with the regular testing regime until 14 days has passed.

It will be the responsibility of employers to collect and maintain records of vaccinated workers.

The Directions provide exemptions for unvaccinated transport, freight and logistics workers, for approved medical reasons.

second dose by 12.01am December 24.

Each day, there are about 300 crossings of the Western Australian border by transport, freight and logistics workers. Many of these workers are from WA, while some are based in other States and Territories.

Regardless of where a worker lives, the Directions will apply to them if they have transited through a 'high' or an 'extreme' risk jurisdiction within 14 days of entering WA.

The Directions include, but are not limited to, freight truck drivers, pilot/ support vehicle drivers, removalists, rail

Premier Mark McGowan said, "The transport, freight and logistics workforce is by its nature highly mobile with truckies and other workers visiting numerous places during the course of their work. "I have a lot of admiration for the work of people in transport, freight and logistics, who do an incredible job each and every day. "We have already seen instances where truck drivers from places like NSW and we can never be too vigilant in our efforts to keep this deadly virus out of WA," he said.