Victorian Transport Association sounds coronavirus border crossing alarm

Victorian Transport Association condemns tighter restrictions that could hold up the 650,000 tonnes of freight that crosses the borders each day.

VTA chief executive Peter Anderson said the forced testing also contradicts Victorian Department of Health and Human Services guidelines. Photo: Hamish Blair

Truck drivers entering NSW and South Australia from Victoria must have been tested for coronavirus within seven days before they crossed the borders under tighter restrictions aimed at limiting COVID-19’s southern outbreak.

But the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has condemned the move, stating it will not only hold up the 650,000 tonnes of freight that crosses the borders each day, given that people must quarantine until they get their test results, which can take up to five days.

VTA chief executive Peter Anderson said the forced testing also contradicts Victorian Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.

“These directives are in direct contravention to health orders in Victoria from the DHHS,” Mr Anderson wrote in a letter to the organisation’s members.

“In Victoria, we are directed to have a COVID-19 test only if we have specific symptoms or feel unwell. We must then quarantine until the results are provided within 3-5 days.

“If we were able to get a COVID-19 test every seven days we would be in breach of Victorian directives if we did not quarantine after testing.”

About 15,000 trucks cross between NSW and South Australian borders each day and night, one way.

The average tonnage carried is more than 650,000 tonnes per day connecting to thousands of supply chain connections.

Mr Anderson said proving a driver has had a test would also be difficult.

“We’re not given any written or electronic receipt of the test.

“While the transport and freight industry has been softly affected in border crossings there are now new restrictions that will create enormous issues and stress for individual companies that need to service customers in other states.

“The contradictions are obvious and the VTA has raised this issue as a matter of urgency with the Victorian Ports and Freight Minister, the NSW Roads Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.”

It comes three weeks after Services NSW told some truck drivers when they applied for an exemption to enter the state from Victoria that they would have to self-isolate for 14 days. A day later, following confusion and delays, the NSW government created a new permit for truck drivers to ensure they can transport thousands of tonnes of freight across the Victorian border each day.

“This permit will allow people within the freight and transport industry to be able to travel between NSW and Victoria for the purpose of their duties, providing their employer has a COVID-19 safety plan and will not require them to self isolate,” Transport for NSW executive director Susie MacKay said at the time.

But in the past three weeks, Victoria has continued to record hundreds of coronavirus infections each day.

This is despite being in lockdown, while small clusters of cases have formed across NSW.