New restrictions for Members located in the Border Zone on the NSW/QLD Border

Members need to be aware that the Queensland Government has now imposed new restrictions on persons crossing the NSW/QLD Border in either direction, under Border Restrictions Direction (No 39).
 

A. Travel restrictions from New South Wales into Queensland

Taking effect at 12.00noon on the 25^th August, 2021 and to remain in place until further notice a Border Zone resident who has not in the preceding fourteen (14) days been in a Covid hotspot outside of the Border Zone (which is currently the whole of New South Wales) may only enter and remain in Queensland for a limited number of essential purposes. These are:

1. To obtain food or other essential goods or services for the personal needs of the household or other household purposes, which cannot reasonably be obtained within New South Wales; or

2. to obtain medical care or supplies or other health care services which cannot reasonably be obtained within New South Wales; or

3. to obtain a scheduled COVID-19 vaccination which cannot reasonably be obtained within New South Wales; or

4. to perform essential work that cannot be done from home, or to provide emergency volunteering; or

5. for children of essential workers or vulnerable children, and an adult that may transport the child, to attend face to face schooling or to attend a childcare facility, or

6. to provide assistance, care or support to a family member or to fulfil other caring responsibilities; or

7. to fulfil an obligation relating to shared parenting or child contact; or

8. for children under 18 years who do not live in the same household as their biological parents or siblings or one of their parents or siblings, continuing existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children and siblings; or

9. in the event of an emergency situation.

 
The Definition of “essential work” is limited to work performed by:

• a medical practitioner or other prescribed health practitioner; or

• a pathology collection worker, including a pathology courier; or

• an aged care or disability worker, where considered essential to maintain continuity of care for aged care recipients or people with disability; or

• by an emergency health services or emergency services worker; or

• national defence, state security or police worker; or

• a freight or logistics operator; or

• an emergency infrastructure worker; or

• air crew or maritime crew; or

• by an emergency volunteer; or

• by a disaster management worker; or

• by a critical infrastructure worker; or

• by a tradesperson or construction worker for essential or emergency construction or essential or emergency repairs only; or

• a person endorsed by the chief executive of a Queensland Government agency as an essential worker.

 
If a person has been in a COVID-19 Hotspot outside of the Border Zone, they may only enter Queensland for an even more limited number of reasons.
 

B. Travel restrictions from Queensland into New South Wales

Members who have staff who reside within Queensland need to be aware that a Queensland resident may enter Queensland after travelling to the Border Zone for one of the following reasons

1. to obtain food or other essential goods or services for the personal needs of the household or other household purposes, which cannot reasonably be obtained within Queensland; or

2. to obtain medical care or supplies or other health care services, which cannot reasonably be obtained within Queensland; or

3. to perform essential work that cannot be done from home, or to provide emergency volunteering;

4. for children of essential workers or vulnerable children, and an adult that may transport the child, to attend face to face schooling or to attend a childcare facility, or

5. to provide assistance, care or support to a family member or to fulfil other caring responsibilities; or

6. to fulfil an obligation relating to shared parenting or child contact; or

7. for children under 18 years who do not live in the same household as their biological parents or siblings or one of their parents or siblings, continuing existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children and siblings; or

8. in the event of an emergency situation.

The same definition of “essential work” applies to a person crossing into New South Wales.
Importantly if a Queensland Resident does travel into the Border Zone then on their return to Queensland they must comply with the “stay at home” requirements in place in Queensland.
 

C. Vaccination Requirements to cross the New South Wales/Queensland Border

In addition a Border Zone Resident may only enter Queensland if they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use in Australia. Importantly this requirement does not apply to a person who enters Queensland as an “essential worker”
 
Further a Queensland resident who travels to the “border Zone” is required to re-enter Queensland by air and quarantine in a government nominated accommodation unless they have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the TGA. Again, this requirement does not apply to a person who enters New South Wales as an “essential worker”
 

If members have any further questions or queries they should contact the Employment Relations Team on P: (02) 90169000 or at E: eradvice@mtansw.com.au