Unvaccinated freight workers banned from Qld from October 15

Unvaccinated freight workers will be blocked from entering Queensland from October 15, with the latest case of a Covid-positive truckie the seventh in the state in little more than a month.

Unvaccinated freight workers will be banned from entering Queensland from October 15 following tough new measures the government hopes will keep Covid-19 out of the state.

With seven Covid-positive truckies entering Queensland since August 24 – including a case of concern on Tuesday – Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declared all drivers must have at least one vaccination by October 15 or they will not be allowed in.

Workers setting up a freight vaccination stop near the Queensland-New South Wales border. Picture: Greg Stolz

Drivers must then have received or have a booking for the second dose by November 15.

Workers are setting up a vaccination stop at the corner of Boyd St and Coolangatta Rd at Tugun.

Several demountables and a large marquee are in position and Queensland Health staff are on the scene.

Extra road barriers are being placed beside the Gold Coast Highway so truckies can park their rigs while they get jabbed.

A truck driver living in shared accommodation was confirmed as a positive case on Tuesday.

Ms Palaszczuk said of the four community cases recorded, it is the one top doctor Jeannette Young is “a little bit more concerned about” with the driver in the community for a week.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said freight workers have lower vaccination rates than the public.

“We know with truck drivers coming across the border regularly, coming from hotspots into Queensland there is an increased risk,” he said.

“Today’s positive case does show that there is a need to increase those provisions in terms of safety for truckies themselves and also the safety of the community here.

“If you’re a truckie now is the time to get vaccinated.”

The new mandate could increase tensions with the industry following last month’s incident where drivers blocked the M1 in protest of border restrictions.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Queensland was within its rights to mandate vaccination for freight drivers but signalled close communication with the sector was key.

“The lesson of what we did at the national level (with aged care staff was), a clear plan, active engagement… everybody worked very very closely with the sector to make sure there was support for the sector and no workforce impact in terms of supply of workers,” he said.

Mr Bailey insisted the government was working with the industry “to ensure we get the balance right”.

Under the new mandate drivers must receive a negative test seven days before entering Queensland – removing the requirement for a test within 72 hours.

The state will establish a roadside vaccination facility at John Flynn Private Hospital at Tugun from today.

Later this week a second will open at Goondiwindi Showgrounds from 6am to 10pm each day.

Transport Workers’ Union national secretary Michael Kaine backed the government’s move.

“Workplace safety must always be prioritised,” he said.

“Health orders driven by evidence and consultation, designed to protect workers and the community are welcome and necessary, particularly during a global health crisis.”

Mr Kaine said an absence of national consistency and leadership had caused “undue chaos” in the transport industry.

“A patchwork of changing border rules and laborious testing regimes have put workers and the community in danger by encroaching on truck drivers’ ability to manage their fatigue and do their jobs safely,” he said.

“We’re encouraged by the Queensland Government’s industry-led move to introduce roadside vaccination hubs as set out in the TWU’s Covid-safe transport roadmap.”

Originally published as Unvaccinated freight workers banned from Qld from October 15