Lockdown Advice Update

1. THE FAR NORTH AREA IN LOCKDOWN 

Pursuant to current Public Health Order (“PHO”), the Far North area will join Greater Sydney in a 7-day lockdown from 7pm on 11 August 2021 to 12:01am 19 August 2021.
 
List of the eight LGAs affected are:

• Bogan,

• Bourke,

• Brewarrina,

• Coonamble,

• Gilgandra,

• Narromine,

• Walgett, and

• Warren.

 
Level of Restrictions
The above eight LGAs in the Far North area have the same restrictions as Armidale, Tamworth and Dubbo LGAs.
 
Summary of key restrictions
Summary of the key restrictions currently applicable to the eight LGAs in the Far North area are as follows:
 

1. Residents must not leave home to work within the LGA unless:

• it is not reasonably practicable for the employee to work at the employee’s place of residence, and

• if the person is required to visit another person’s place of residence to engage in work—the person is authorised under clause 22A in the Public Health Order (“PHO”).

2. Residents must not leave home to work outside of the LGA unless:

• it is not reasonably practicable for the employee to work at the employee’s place of residence, and

• if the person is required to visit another person’s place of residence to engage in work—the person is authorised under clause 22A in the PHO.

• carry evidence showing the address of the person’s place of residence or temporary accommodation, and

• produce the evidence for inspection if requested to do so by a police officer.

3. A person outside of this LGA must not, without a reasonable excuse as per Schedule 1 in the PHO enter into this LGA.

4. Must not travel more than 10km from home for either exercise or obtaining food and other essential items.

5. Must carry evidence of their place of residence and produce this evidence for inspection if requested to do so by a Police Officer.

6. Many of the retail businesses under Clause 24 in the PHO are to be closed during the lockdown. However, members retail operations including selling vehicles to the public, are only permitted if

• a “click and collect” service, where a person buys, returns or exchanges goods by telephone or online and then attends the retail premises to collect, exchange or return the goods, or

• delivering goods to a person’s place of residence or other premises after the person has bought the goods by telephone or online

Businesses that are allowed to be opened must incorporate and comply with the approved COVID-19 Safety Plan.
 
 

2. THE LGA OF BURWOOD, STRATHFIELD AND BAYSIDE IN LOCKDOWN 

The Premier of NSW had announced in a press conference today that the LGA of Municipality of Burwood, Strathfield Council and Bayside Council will be in a lockdown from 5pm on 12 August 2021 to 12:01am of 28 August 2021.
 
List of suburbs affected:

a. Burwood LGA:Burwood, Burwood Heights, Croydon (part), Croydon Park (part), Enfield and Strathfield (part).
 
b. Strathfield LGA:Belfield (part), Greenacre (part), Homebush, Homebush West (part), Strathfield (part) and Strathfield South.
 
c. Bayside LGA:Arncliffe, Banksia, Banksmeadow, Bardwell Park, Bardwell Valley, Bexley, Bexley North, Botany, Brighton-Le-Sands, Carlton (part), Daceyville, Dolls Point, Eastgardens, Eastlakes, Hillsdale, Kingsgrove (part), Kogarah (part), Kyeemagh, Mascot, Monterey, Pagewood, Ramsgate (part), Ramsgate Beach, Rockdale, Rosebery (part), Sandringham, Sans Souci (part), Turrella and Wolli Creek.
 
Level of Restrictions
Members will be provided with further information if any further changes exist after the Public Health Order (“PHO”) has been updated. For now, it is understood that the Burwood, Strathfield and Bayside LGA have the same restrictions as the Declared Areas (i.e. such as Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown)
 
Summary of restrictions

a. Residents must not leave home to work within their LGA unless:

• it is not reasonably practicable for the employee to work at the employee’s place of residence, and

• if the person is required to visit another person’s place of residence to engage in work—the person is authorised under clause 22A in the PHO.

 b. Residents must not leave home to work outside of their LGA unless:

• they are an “Authorised Worker” The list of those persons classified as “Authorised Worker” can be found at www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules. We remind members that workers in transport and warehousing are classified as “Authorised Workers”

 c. Must not travel more than 5km from home for either exercise or obtaining food and other essential items. Importantly, the exception contained in Schedule 1 of the PHO to leave your home to obtain goods or services for household purposes does not apply. Residents must carry evidence of their place of residence and produce this evidence for inspection if requested to do so by a Police Officer. 

d. Members who provide services to businesses in the Construction Industry must also carry evidence to show that the worker has complied with either one of the followings:

• has had 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, or

• has had 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 21 days ago, or

• has had 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine within the preceding 21 days and has been tested for COVID-19 within the preceding 72 hours (test for COVID-19 includes test for COVID-19 using a rapid antigen test on a construction site in the way approved by the Chief Health Officer), or

• a certified medical contraindication and has been tested for COVID-19 within the preceding 72 hours if the person—

  • cannot have a COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical contraindication, and

  • has a certificate, in the form approved by the Chief Health Officer, from a medical practitioner that specifies the medical contraindication

 e. Face coverings over both the person’s nose and mouth at all times in both indoor and outdoor areas. 


3. THE NEWCASTLE AND HUNTER AREA LOCKDOWN EXTENDED

The Premier of NSW had announced in a press conference today that lockdown in the Newcastle and Hunter area is extended for a week from 12:01am on 13 August 2021 to 12:01am on 20 August 2021.
 
Level of Restrictions
There has been no changes announced to the restrictions on movement previously advised to Members.
 

4. THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY IN LOCKDOWN
The ACT Chief Minister has announced in a press conference today that the ACT is in a 7-day lockdown from 5pm on 12 August 2021 to 12:01am on 20 August 2021.
 
Level of Restrictions
The relevant Public Health Direction has not yet been updated for the announced lockdown. For now, it is understood that:
 
a. there will only be four reasons to leave home:

• essential employment,

• healthcare (including vaccination and essential workers),

• to get groceries, and

• for one hour of outdoor exercise per day (residents can only exercise with one other person, or with other members of their household).

 b. Residents in the ACT must have a mask on them when they leave the house. The only exemptions are when you are undertaking "rigorous exercise" or for a medical reason where applicable.

c. Anybody who can work from home, must work from home.

d. Hospitality venues can only operate in a takeaway capacity.

e. All non-essential businesses, including non-essential retail, will be closed for the week. Essential retails/businesses include:

• a supermarket, grocery store, bakery, butcher, fruit and vegetable store or fishmonger;

• an indoor or outdoor market, but only to obtain groceries or fresh food

• a bottleshop;

• a bank or financial institution;

• a post office;

• a newsagent;

• a pharmacy;

• a petrol station (including a petrol station that sells groceries);

• vehicle and mechanical repair services;

• hardware, building supplies;

• agricultural and rural supplies;

• laundry and dry cleaners;

• a pet store; and

• a locksmith.

 
NSW-ACT travel bubble postcodes
 
a. The travel bubble applies to residents in communities around the ACT border with the following postcodes: 2581, 2582, 2584, 2611, 2618, 2619, 2620, 2621, 2623, and 2626.

b. Residents in the travel will be allowed to enter the ACT without an exemption but only for the above-mentioned four reasons to leave home.

c. All of NSW has been declared a COVID-19 affected area and the ACT Policing will be very vigilant and looking out for NSW vehicle numberplates.Visit https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/ for more information.
 

If Members have any questions or queries surrounding the latest updates then please contact the MTA NSW Employment Relations team at P: (02) 90169000 or at E: eradvice@mtansw.com.au