Treasurer Dom Perrottet apologises as Fairfield testing queues stretch kilometres under new Covid rules

Hours after harsh new rules were brought in for one Sydney area, testing queues are stretched back kilometres, with residents told of a four-hour wait.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has apologised to residents in Sydney’s west forced to queue for hours for Covid-19 tests due to tough new rules introduced by the state government.

Testing queues in the Fairfield LGA stretched back kilometres on Wednesday morning, with locals told there would be at least a four-hour wait before they could be seen.

People have flocked to testing venues after the NSW Government announced new rules in a bid to keep the city’s rapidly-growing Covid-19 outbreak at bay.

Under the rules, people living in the western Sydney local government area of Fairfield who need to leave the area for work will be required to take a Covid-19 test every three days, regardless of if they have symptoms. Police can ask for proof of a recent, negative test from Saturday.

A local worker named Wayne told 2GB he had waited in a queue at the 24-hour testing facility in Smithfield from 1am on Wednesday, before being forced to turn around and head to work hours later.

“The guy told me there was still a four-hour wait at that hour,” he said.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has issued an apology to people caught in lng Covid-19 testing queues in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Speaking to 2GB host Ben Fordham later in the morning, Mr Perrottet responded to the chaotic situation in the region and said the NSW government was looking for solutions.

He stressed the new rules won’t come into effect until Saturday and affected people can get tested at venues outside their local government area.

“Can I just, on behalf of the government, apologise to everyone in Fairfield for this significant inconvenience,” he said. “But also thank them, because it’s the sacrifice that they’re making … that keeps people safe.”

Local MP Guy Zangari told 2GB police were turning residents away from testing sites on Tuesday night, when the wait for a test stretched to six hours.

He described the situation as “chaos” and demanded more testing facilities were opened to keep up with demand.

“It’s time for Gladys Berejiklian to put her money where her mouth is by increasing 24-hour testing sites, having more health care professionals on the ground …. because what we saw last night was a slap in the face to the hardworking people of Fairfield,” he said.

Long Covid testing queues in Fairfield on the night of Tuesday 13 July 2021. Picture: ABC News

Days before harsh new testing rules come into effect, lines at Fairfield are stretching back kilometres. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Mr Zangari later told the ABC it had been a brutal few weeks for the community.

“All residents of the Fairfield local government area who over the last three weeks have had the finger pointed at them, they have been shamed and blamed and they are doing the right thing here.

“Commendations to all the residents, but they need a Government that is going to support them with all the resources possible.”

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone shared shocking video of the line at 10pm on Tuesday night, calling for more resources after locals flocked to be tested immediately after the 11am announcement.
“We support more testing but adequate resources need to be put in place, today has been a terrible experience with a 6 hour wait and the NSW government needs to put more testing sites across Fairfield,” he wrote in a scathing Facebook post.

Days before harsh new testing rules come into effect, lines at Fairfield are stretching back kilometres. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

“Endeavour reserve testing clinic has blocked all of The Boulevard, Avenell St and every other road leading into the Park for kilometres, crossing over into Hamilton Road.

“These poor residents who need to go to work tomorrow are having to wait hours due to the new testing rules that apply to Fairfield residents who are required to get tested every 3 days if they work outside our area.”

New South Wales recorded 89 new cases on Tuesday, with Sydney’s lockdown expected to be extended for a second time later on Wednesday.

One worker was told on Wednesday morning there was still a four-hour wait, hours after arriving at 1am to be tested. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Local Mayor Frank Carbone has called for more testing resources to be deployed immediately. Picture: Today