Minister scraps iso rules for airport staff after call from Alan Joyce

Isolation rules for airport workers have been relaxed in the wake of three days of Sydney Airport chaos with staff no longer having to stay at home if a close contact.

Isolation rules for airport workers have been relaxed in the wake of the Sydney Airport chaos with staff no longer having to stay at home if a close contact.

It is understood Health Minister Brad Hazzard made the decision after a receiving a phone call from Qantas boss Alan Joyce who blamed close contact rules for difficulties in filling shifts and staff at the airport along with ‘out-of-practice” travellers.

Under the changes to the Public Health (Covid-19 Self-Isolation) Order 2022, airport staff deemed by their employer as a “critical worker” will no longer have to isolate for seven days if a close contact.

Critical workers must also only travel directly to and from their place of residence and workplace while also wearing a mask at all time unless eating or drinking.

Staff will also be required to undergo regular Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) for seven days from the time they last had contact with a diagnosed person with the result to be reported to their employer daily.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard is understood to have made the decision after talking to Qantas boss Alan Joyce. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

The scenes at the Qantas Domestic terminal at Sydney airport today. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Anybody who tests positive will be required to immediately self-isolate for seven days.

If a critical workers has symptoms, they also will be required to self-isolate, returning to work only in event of a negative PCR test.

Under the order, a critical workers is deemed a person whose absence from the workplace poses a high risk of disruption to the delivery of critical services or activities, or who is unable to work from home.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce blamed close contact rules for difficulties in filling shifts and staff at the airport.

It is understood Mr Joyce first contacted Mr Hazzard on Thursday with the pair also texting and speaking on Friday.

Among the concerns Mr Joyce raised included the need for better outcomes for passengers through more flexible staffing arrangements at the airport and within the industry.

Mr Joyce, who copped flak for suggesting travellers were also party to blame for the long airport queues, said Covid-19 cases and isolation requirement meant up to 18 per cent of staff were also not at work.

It is understood Mr Joyce has developed a trusting relationship with health officials with the airline boss making himself available to NSW Health at the height of the pandemic to help guide the best way to keep crew and passengers of the airline industry safe.