COVID Vaccination Requirement - NSW Public Health Order Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) wish to advise that the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (the department) has issued Industry Advice 200-2021 advising of revisions to the NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Additional Restrictions for Delta Outbreak) Order (No 2) 2021 (the order)

What has changed?

The Order has been amended and mandates that authorised workers over the age of 16 and who live in a Local Government Area (LGA) of concern, can only leave their LGA of concern to perform essential work functions, if they have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

The time-frames specified by the Public Health Order are:

• Between 9 and 19 September 2021, have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or have an appointment to be vaccinated on or before 19 September 2021 and have evidence of that appointment;
• From 19 September 2021, have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

There is an exception to these orders if the worker is unable to be vaccinated due to a medical condition. These workers must obtain and carry a medical contraindication certificate.

Action

The department continues to consult with staff to ensure that department authorised officers who reside in an LGA of concern are vaccinated and are aware of the requirements under the NSW Public Health Order. 

• The department has advised all authorised officers residing within an LGA of concern about their obligations under the NSW Public Health Order and that they are required to meet these obligations in order to carry out their duties. 
• Where authorised officers are required to leave their LGA of concern, they are required to carry vaccination evidence (being evidence of vaccination or medical contraindication certification) and evidence showing the worker's name and place of residence (together referred to as the "Required Evidence").
• Our authorised officers are classed as Exempt Persons under the NSW Public Health Order and are not required to show the Required Evidence if they attend a TPP for the purpose of conducting their work and only need to show their departmental identification. However, we encourage our authorised officers to present evidence of vaccination or medical contraindication certification if requested by the TPP.

Regulated entities anticipating inspection and audit activities at TPP should expect delays during this period.

The assistance of industry and their employees to comply with requirements of the NSW Public Heath Order is appreciated.

Industry is also reminded of their obligations to notify the department if any of their staff (or visitors to their premises) test positive for COVID-19 as per Import Industry Advice Notice 159-2021.

Further information

For further general information about this Import Industry Advice Notice, please contact the department on 1800 900 090.

If you have been impacted by state government advice and are unable to maintain your scheduled import inspection appointment with the department, please contact us on 1800 900 090 or email the relevant import booking queue to advise of cancellation of the appointment.

For urgent information relating to this notice, please email agriccc@agriculture.gov.au making sure to include "COVID NOTIFICATION - [STATE/TERRITORY]" in the subject field of the email.