NSW Covid: Fairfield testing sites expanded after backlash to new work rules

Workers in a Covid hot zone have been dealt a blow amid ambiguity that may deny them $600 a week payments.

Health authorities announced a frantic expansion of testing locations in Fairfield on Wednesday night in the face of extreme backlash, after a lack of testing capacity forced residents to wait up to six hours for a swab so they could go to work.

It came as Gladys Berejiklian’s refusal to define “essential work” put thousands of people at risk of not being able to access federal support payments, with the Premier slapped down by Canberra for providing incorrect advice.

Testing sites in Fairfield were flooded with tens of thousands of residents lining up for a surveillance test in accordance with new rules requiring a test every three days for people who work out of the area.

The Fairfield Showground drive-through Covid testing clinic had massive queues for all of Wednesday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The extensive queues at the Fairfield Showground drive-through Covid testing clinic on Wednesday night. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Lines at drive through clinics snaked for kilometres through suburban streets, while toilets at one testing site were padlocked shut.

Some people waited up to six hours for a test.

Sydney residents, particularly those in Fairfield, have been repeatedly told to not leave their homes unless “absolutely” necessary, and to only leave for “essential work”. But with the Premier has refused to define what is and isn’t essential, even claiming that definitions of essential work in Victoria had led to “absolute chaos”.

On Wednesday, Ms Berejiklian suggested people should “think twice” about going to work “unless the work you’re doing is keeping someone alive or keeping someone going”.

Workers were told to “have a conversation with your boss” about staying home.

“When you are an essential worker, please think twice: ‘do I need to do that work this week? Can I stay home?’” Ms Berejiklian said.

Asked specifically if people who voluntarily decided not to go to work would be entitled to federal government support payments of up to $600 per week, the Premier answered “yes”.

“Yes … The whole point is if you’ve had reduced hours, irrespective of the reason, you are entitled to those payments,” she declared, when asked if people would get the payment if they choose not to work.

However, the federal government then clarified that workers who decline shifts offered to them, in line with the Premier’s advice, could be forced to repay support payments if they were audited.

“People are only eligible for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment if they are unable to attend work due to impacts resulting from the lockdown restrictions,” a National Recovery and Resilience Agency spokeswoman said when asked directly about the Premier’s comments.

Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey said workers who choose not to show up to work could face disciplinary action or even get the sack

“It’s not for workers to negotiate with their boss around something that’s as clear as mud,” he said.

After inquiries from The Daily Telegraph, the state government conceded payments up to $600 apply to people unable to work – rather than people who choose not to.

The lack of proper testing facilities in Fairfield caused outrage on Wednesday.

A grace period was announced allowing workers to leave without a test until Saturday, but that was too late for thousands of residents who listened to Health Minister Brad Hazzard and lined up for a test.

Ms Berejiklian told people who work outside of the area to get tested near work not at home.

“Time is money, you can’t just expect all these people to be traversing around the countryside when we’re in the middle of a pandemic,” local Labor MP Guy Zangari said.

TAFE teacher Casey Doddson, who works in Quakers Hill, lined up for two hours for her test with her young children.

“My 10-month-old cried for most of the time and my three-year-old was also quite agitated being idle for so long. I can’t rely on anyone to babysit as we can’t have contact with anyone so that has been very stressful,” Ms Doddson said.

Fairfield resident Natalie Herranz, 20, who works outside the region, is outraged at the new Covid testing which had been “poorly thought through”.

“It’s inhumane to isolate one community so completely from the rest of the city while others are blatantly non-compliant with the law but live in more affluent suburbs,” she said.