Essential workers in the regions have been granted an exemption to the current Public Health Order to carpool together to work, even if they are not from the same household.
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In the midst of a nationwide labour shortage, the news is welcome for farm workers, many of whom who don't have access to a car or an Australian license to travel to work, which in the coming weeks and months for spring harvest will be vital.
Healthcare workers will also benefit from the change.
In emails obtained by The Area News, Member for Murray Helen Dalton, appealed to Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard to amend the carpooling restrictions in place, that dictated that only essential workers from the same household could carpool to work together.
"The Public Health Order has created havoc for farming businesses across Regional NSW," Mrs Dalton said.
"Many essential farm workers do not own their own car, and have long travelled to and from work via car pooling.
"Giving these essential workers are allowed to work together, I fail to see the rationale for preventing them travelling to and from their workplace together."
From the 30th of August, an exempt person may travel in an exempt vehicle with another person who is not their nominated visitor or a member of their household subject to the following conditions:
- The exempt person must wear a fitted face covering at all times whilst in the exempt vehicle
- The exempt person must take reasonably practicable steps to ensure that the windows of the exempt vehicle are down
- The exempt person must register their contact details when entering the exempt vehicle
This however, is subject to the conditions that occupants of a vehicle have had at least their first dose of their COVID-19 vaccination or are booked to have their first dose no late the the 10th of September.
A full list of what you can and cannot do under current lockdown restrictions impacting Regional NSW is available here.
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