Victorian Freight and Logistics Industry COVID-19 update

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) last night attended a briefing hosted by the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) and Minster for Employment Jaala Pulford in terms of restrictions that commenced at 11:59pm last night (27 May).
 
The 7 Day "Circuit Breaker" has a number of familiar restrictions with the overarching message again being : anyone who can work from home; must work from home 

The Minister did however reaffirm that Authorised Workers are permitted to attend work  with the reminder that Face coverings: • Must be carried at all times • Must be worn indoors and outdoors except if at home, or if an exemption applies .

Authorised Workers relevant to freight and logistics sector

• air transport (including the operation of airports); or
• port operations; or
• freight services (including postal and courier services); or
• a transport, freight or logistics driver; or

The full list is available HERE

To view the general circuit breaker restrictions correspondence from DJPR please refer HERE

Members are reminded:

• To help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), stay safe by regularly washing your hands, keep at least 1.5 metres from other people, and stay home if you feel unwell.
• If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) get tested. Testing sites and wait times are listed on the State's coronavirus where to get tested webpage.In line with advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government has announced the state will enter 7-day circuit breaker restrictions from 11.59pm on Thursday 27 May 2021. Further information on these restrictions can be found on the Statement from the Acting Premier's webpage.
  This decision was made in response to an increase in community transmission of COVID-19.
  Under the restrictions, freight and logistics are authorised workplaces and workers, and freight services can continue to operate normally throughout Victoria for business purposes. This will ensure that essential supplies get to where they need to go during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Authorised workplaces and workers include:
• port operations
• freight services (including postal and courier services)
• a transport, freight or logistics driver
• National Heavy Vehicle Regulator compliance activities
• truck stops and roadhouses
• Worker permits are not required.
  More information is provided in attachment to the Acting Premier's media release, 7 Day Circuit Breaker Restrictions
  Freight operators are reminded:
• To help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), stay safe by regularly washing your hands, keep at least 1.5 metres from other people, and stay home if you feel unwell.
• If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) get tested. Testing sites and wait times are listed on the State's coronavirus where to get tested webpage.

As members will recall, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA), the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) and the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Minister for Health Greg Hunt calling on the government to provide priority vaccine access for critical high risk workers in Australia's supply chain industry.

The correspondence highlighted:

• Australian supply chain workers have been so far largely successful in not contributing to transmitting COVID-19, however due to the nature of their work the risk remains for this sector - as an industry, supply chain workers collectively represent more than 600,000 across freight, logistics, warehousing, international trade logistics service providers, importers and exporters; and
• these essential workers in many cases cannot work from home and are critical to keep the country's freight moving - they continue to support Australian communities during the on-going crisis and require vaccine protection to do their jobs safely.

MEDIA RELEASE AVAILABLE HERE

FTA, APSA and the ALC received a response from the Deputy Prime Minister:

• acknowledging the vital support of our respective peak industry bodies to businesses during the pandemic and noting our advocacy regarding vaccine access for supply chain workers; and
• a commitment that we will receive a further detailed response from the Health Minister in terms of our priority vaccine proposal.