Freight movements have been severely compromised between Victoria and South Australia as Victoria’s second wave continues to wreak havoc on the transport sector.
Overnight the South Australian Government enforced a hard border with Victoria. It’s now a requirement that essential travellers entering that state must have been tested in the seven days prior to crossing the border.
Today, transport companies are being turned back at the border, stopping the movement of essential items like food, fuel and mail into South Australia.
The South Australian Government’s directive will have no guaranteed impact on health outcomes in that state because the incubation period of the virus ranges from 1 – 14 days. All it will do is risk a break in the supply chain and leave shelves empty on that side of the border, which could lead to panic buying.
It’s also compromising Victorian businesses because Victorians who are tested are required to self-isolate until they receive their results, which is taking many days as the Andrews Labor Government is overwhelmed by cases.
Daniel Andrews must make it clear whether he supports this action by the South Australian Government and advise whether he will make weekly testing available to asymptomatic drivers in order to comply with these border rules.
It’s time for Premier Daniel Andrews to stand up and back the freight industry, and to start cleaning up this mess of his own making.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Ports and Freight, Roma Britnell:
“The South Australian Government has shut its borders because of Daniel Andrew’s bungled management of the pandemic in Victoria, but it’s South Australians who will suffer because of these closures.
“Everyone needs to come to together and sort this mess out. I’ve been taking calls from freight companies all day who have been stopped at the border and are confused about what their obligations are.
“The Andrews Labor Government created this mess, it needs to clean it up.”
