During this difficult time, you should consider if your worker travel is critical and if it can be delayed.  NSW Police are actively enforcing operation Stay at Home, so you will be required to provide evidence of your residential address and evidence why you are travelling for work. 
 

It will be your responsibility to demonstrate to Authorities why your travel is required and, in some cases, you may be required to travel with a permit.
 

Everyone has a responsibility to minimise all movements as much as possible. Only move you or your agribusiness workers if it is absolutely required.
 

The National Agriculture code lists the below Industry associates as Essential workers: 

• Veterinary clinics and related services including on‐farm visits, animal care services (only where there is a genuine animal welfare issue) and artificial insemination  

For this reason, veterinarians are able to travel through Regional NSW LGA's.

If it is critical to undertake the work, then travel with evidence as to where you are travelling to and why, should Police ask for documents and evidence for your travel. You should take the most direct route and only stop for essential reasons such as fuel, rest breaks, meal breaks or if there is an emergency. You will be required to wear a mask indoors and outdoors and you should have a COVID Business Safety Plan  

Permits are not currently required for regional residents. Should you travel interstate, you will be required to complete the appropriate permit application and follow the rules of that state or territory. 

For further information on travel restrictions within regional NSW please see here: Regional and rural restrictions | NSW Government

Crossing the QLD Border

There have been a range of substantial changes from the 21 August 2021 on arrangements for crossing the border from NSW to Qld, especially for essential and agricultural workers.

The new arrangements, which apply to anyone entering Qld from 1 AM, 21 August 2021, are not retrospective, and are being applied by Qld enforcement agencies on border crossing points now.

All people crossing the border should expect to come into contact with officials conducting compliance and enforcement operations, and there are spot checks being conducted further afield in Qld.
 

Farmer and agribusiness class exemption

A new class exemption will continue to 30 November 2021, unless amended or revoked. There are limitations to who can use the class exemption.

The class exemption only applies to the NSW border zone.

The class exemption: 

• is restricted to farmers and agribusiness workers residing in Queensland and the New South Wales border zone 
• includes a schedule of specific types of workers of farmers and agribusiness workers to which the exemption applies: 
  • farmers with contiguous farms dissected by the Queensland–NSW border 
  • farmers with one or more active farm production sites 
  • specialist farm machinery operators for time-critical agricultural operations such as planting, fertilising, spraying and harvesting. 
  • specialist agronomists providing time-critical crop production advice 
  • specialist technicians, including maintenance and repair, for agriculture activities such as agricultural production storage 
  • specialist veterinarians and critical support technicians to prevent significant adverse animal welfare outcomes only where an animal cannot practicably be transported for treatment. 

• requires evidence of a negative test in the last 7 days and continued 7-day testing cycle; and evidence of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination having been administered 
• requires compliance with stay-at-home quarantine rules for 14 days, and you can only leave your private residence for a select number of reasons including: performing essential farming or agribusiness work where the work is of a nature that cannot reasonably be performed from the person’s place of residence; to obtain food or other goods; to exercise outdoors; to obtain a COVID-19 test or vaccination. In addition, anyone subject to the stay-at-home requirements may have up to 2 visitors per day to their home. 

 
You must put into place a quarantine management plan, keep records of any close contacts and only travel directly to and from farm and/or place of residence.

The class exemption does not cover someone who has been to an interstate exposure venue or is a close contact of someone who has, anyone with a confirmed COVID-19 case or has COVID19 symptoms or has travelled outside of the border zone in a COVID-19 hotspot, unless 14 days have passed.

After you apply online for your Queensland Border Declaration Pass, please carry your documentation with you. You must now read and be aware of all conditions in the attached class exemption.
 
Specialist or essential worker endorsement (if the class exemption cannot be used)

The specialist or essential worker endorsement process may be another option for entry into Queensland.

You will need to clearly demonstrate that you have seriously attempted to source workers from outside of hotspot areas and demonstrate why it is critical for entry.

The same stay at home requirements and limitations will apply. Further detail on this process will be provided once made available by the Queensland Government.

This information is based on the rules as at the time of response. All individuals must regularly check the public health orders to ensure they understand their obligations. 

For further information, visit COVID-19 rules | NSW Government