UPDATED: 8/7/2020

As Victoria goes into a second locktown the message is clear…Stay home! 

Cross border travel restrictions include air, road and rail travel are unprecedented in their roll out and likely impact.  The system for allowing essential travel will likely change rapidly over the next few days and weeks, and ACAPMA will keep this article updated, but for now the following links lead to the detailed information;

Essential Travel Exemptions

There are State based arrangements to allow workers who are moving freight interstate, crossing a border to work in or on a business that is open and allowing trade (this includes wholesale and retail fuel sites).  Each State is developing systems to allow for as smooth a transition as possible for these people who have an essential need to cross the borders.  But the message is clear to everyone else – STAY HOME!

BORDER RESTRICTION STATUS AND RESOURCES

INTERNATIONAL

QLD

From 10 July, border restrictions requirements will be relaxed from all states other than Victoria. Entry will be allowed with the signing of a declaration. Further details around these relaxations will be communicated shortly. More:  https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/roadmap-to-easing-queenslandsrestrictions

QLD has declared the all of Victoria to be hotspot


NSW

  • Current Status: OPEN – WITH CONSTRAINTS
  • Constraints:

Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Order 2020 (Order) came into effect from 8 July 2020. This Order can be found at; https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/_emergency/Border%20Control%20Order.pdf .

The object of this Order is to restrict entry into New South Wales of persons who have been in
Victoria within the previous 14 days before entry and supersedes The Public Health (COVID-
19 Interstate Hotspots) Order 2020 which is now repealed.

ServiceNSW has launched an online portal for COVID-19 NSW border entry permit applications and is available at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-covid-
19-nsw-border-entry-permit.

As outlined in the Order, persons providing a critical service are eligible to apply for a NSW
entry permit.

The permit is valid for 14 days from the date of issue and applies to all borders: land, air and sea, as well as river crossings. The permit will indicate if the recipient will need to self-isolate for 14 days, get tested for COVID-19 or any other conditions. There is a specific category of permit for a person providing critical services. The permit does not exempt a person from obligations to adhere to public health guidelines and Public Health Orders.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
The Service NSW permit application system is experiencing high levels of demand. Some people may experience delays in securing a permit.
As a temporary measure, you can still demonstrate your eligibility to cross the border to Police by carrying relevant documentation based on your category of exemption. Further details on border restrictions can be found at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/whatyou-
can-and-cant-do-under-rules/border-restrictions
NSW

ACT

  • Current Status: OPEN – with contraints
  • Constraints:
    The ACT government will impose new restrictions on anyone travelling from Victoria, commencing 12:01am Wednesday 8 July 2020.  Anyone travelling to the ACT from Victoria will not be able to enter those jurisdictions, unless they are: an ACT or NSW resident; or entering NSW to obtain medical or other care, to fulfil a legal obligation, give effect to a court order, or to provide an essential service; or otherwise granted an exemption. Residents of ACT will be able to return home, but they will be required to enter quarantine for 14 days after leaving Victoria. 
    More Information: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/news-articles/act-border-restrictions

Do Not Travel Advisory:

ACT residents should not travel to COVID-19 hotspots, including Melbourne suburbs that are currently under stay at home public health orders until 29 July 2020. Any nonessential travel to other parts of greater metropolitan Melbourne is strongly discouraged.

https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/travelling-andtransport#Travelling-to-the-ACT


Northern Territory

  • Current Status: OPEN – with constraints
  • Constraints: All arrivals from interstate will be required to self-isolate for 14 days

    Non-essential travelers arriving from interstate before 17th July 2020 are required to selfquarantine for 14 days, unless you have approval for an alternate arrangement.

    From the 26th June all travelers coming from designated ‘hotspots’ will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days. There are severe penalties in place for breaches of quarantine and/ or false declarations.  All auto exempt people and classes of people will be required to self-quarantine if they live, work or have travelled to identified ‘hotspots’ within the previous 28 days.  Identified ‘hotspots’ are regularly updated and can be found at https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/stay-safe/quarantine/hotspots-covid-19

    Remote areas:  The biosecurity area restrictions in the NT were lifted on 5 June 2020.  There is a requirement to quarantine in an urban area prior to entering a remote community if you have travelled from interstate, unless you have been granted an Exemption by the NT Chief Health Officer.  Any non-residents wanting to go into a remote community must still follow all the requirements of land council and local communities, including checking land council permits.

SA

  • Current Status: OPEN – with constraints
  • Constraints: All arrivals from interstate will be required to self-isolate for 14 days

The current advice regarding border restrictions for entry to South Australia can be found here https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations/cross-border-travel

New online pre-approval process for travel into South Australia.  A new online cross-border travel process came into effect on 1 July 2020 for travellers entering South Australia from interstate. While border restrictions have been eased for people entering South Australia directly from Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory, all workers inbound to South Australia (including workers returning from rosters interstate) should complete an online form that is available on the South Australia Police website https://www.police.sa.gov.au/online-services/crossborder-travel-application

Travellers are required to complete an online questionnaire and upload the supporting letter previously used to enable border crossings. The traveller will then receive an email containing a unique code that will have to be shown at the border to ensure entry into South Australia. Importantly, there are no other changes to the Cross Border Travel Direction.

Victorian border closure extended.  Premier Steven Marshall has announced the deferral of the planned removal of border restrictions between South Australia and Victoria on 20 July due to a recent increase in COVID-19 infections in that State. Further consideration is also being given to the timing of the opening of borders to the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales.

Updates will be circulated when further information becomes available.

TAS

  • Current Status: OPEN – with constraints
  • Constraints: All arrivals from interstate will be required to self-isolate for 14 days

Every person arriving in Tasmania, including Tasmanian residents, (with the exception of Essential Travellers) are required to enter a 14 day period of self-isolation in government provided accommodation on arrival in Tasmania. Tasmanian residents are able to quarantine in their principal residence if it is suitable.

This Tasmanian self-isolation requirement will be in addition to Australian Government requirements for all returning international travellers and specified cruise passengers to enter self-isolation at their point of arrival into Australia.

You cannot leave your port of entry and go to your private residence or previously arranged accommodation. All people entering Tasmania must report directly to Biosecurity Tasmania staff at your port of entry. Travelers will be required to complete a Tasmanian Arrivals Form https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/Tasmanian%20Arrivals%20Form.pdf

VIC

  • Current Status: OPEN – NO RESTRICTIONS

Current Directions for Victoria can be accessed from www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/stateemergency.

For more on the Victorian Lockdown and its implications see; https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/200707-Statement-From-The-Premier-1.pdf

WA

Current Status: OPEN – with constraints

Strict border controls are in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.  You cannot enter Western Australia unless an exemption has been granted.   Anyone who thinks they meet the criteria outlined in the Quarantine (Closing the Border) Directions may apply for an exemption either through a paper based exemption application form available at www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/wa-entryrequest-approval-exempt-traveller or through G2G [Good 2 Go] PASS, which is an online mobile application that allows you to apply for a travel exemption within and into Western Australia. If granted an exemption through G2G PASS you will receive an email confirming the exemption and access to a unique QR code that you will be required to present to a police officer at checkpoints for scanning. Further information can be obtained from www.g2gpass.com.au/initiative and www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/g2g-pass-travel-exemptions-frequently-askedquestions

  
ACAPMA advises Members, if you encounter any issues in managing the impacts of your fuel operation in the face of these new arrangements please email communications@acapma.com.au