COVID-19
ARTIO NSW has developed a resource to assist transport operators in NSW and the ACT to ensure they can keep operating safely and efficiently. We are working with other industry organisations in the spirit of co-operation and for the benefit of employers, employees and sub-contractors.
Please find below an extensive list of websites and other sources to address any concern you may have:
- Border controls and quarantine, the Freight Code and the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
- Awards, National Employment Standards, standing down employees and superannuation
- Awards, National Employment Standards, standing down employees and superannuation.
- Business support.
- COVID-19 clinics and COVID-19 health status.
- Support for indigenous Australians and Australians whose second language is English.
- WHS advice, mental health and domestic, family or sexual violence support.
BORDER CONTROLS AND QUARANTINE, THE FREIGHT CODE AND THE HEAVY NATIONAL VEHICLE LAW
| Border Controls and Quarantine | NHVR | The NHVR has summarised the information on border restrictions specific to the heavy vehicle industry. The information is sourced from, and verified by, the relevant state or territory governments. Further information is available from the NHVR at: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/about-us/coronavirus-response |
| Please also refer to ARTIO NSW Information Circulars which provide regular updates of developments in other jurisdictions | ||
| Freight Code | A copy of the Freight Movement Code for the Domestic Border Controls – Freight Movement Protocol (Freight Code) is available from the Federal Dept of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development website at:: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/vehicle_regulation/files/protocol-for-domestic-border-controls-freight-movements.pdf. | |
| Freight Industry Newsletters | NSW |
ARTIO NSW Information Circular 110/2020, 8/8/2020 Keeps transport operators up to date with the latest developments from Transport for NSW. |
| NHVR Regulatory and Operational Issues | ||
| Curfew restrictions | The NHVR website provides advice on the status of curfew restrictions. Visit: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/about-us/coronavirus-response#curfew. | |
| NHVAS and AFM standards | The NHVR website provides the following advice on the status of NHVAS and AFM standards. Visit: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/202003-1133-nhvas-and-afm-standards-temporary-change-to-driver-medical-requirements.pdf. For medical requirements and face-to-face audit requirements: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/news/2020/03/25/nhvr-reducing-burden-on-industry-accreditation For driver medical requirements: NHVAS and AFM: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/202003-1133-nhvas-and-afm-standards-temporary-change-to-driver-medical-requirements.pdf For changes to NHVAS and AFM business rules: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/202003-1132-nhvas-and-afm-business-rules-temporary-change-to-auditing.pdf |
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| NHVR fees | The NHVR website provides advice on the status of NHVR fees. Visit: www.nhvr.gov.au/law-policies/fee-schedule | |
| Roller Brake Testing | The NHVR website provides advice on roller brake testing. Visit: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/201801-0762-vsg21-national-rbt-procedure.pdf | |
| Two up driving | The NHVR website provides advice on border restriction exemptions for two up driving in NT, Qld, SA, Tas and WA. Visit: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/about-us/coronavirus-response#two-up. |
AWARDS, NATIONAL
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS, STANDING DOWN AND SUPERANNUATION
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ISSUE |
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SOURCE/S OF ADVICE |
| Awards | ||
| Award Changes – transport and clerks awards |
ARTIO NSW Industrial Circular 12/2020, issued 9/4/2020 | |
| Long Service Leave |
ACT | Access Canberra website: https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/3008/~/long-service-leave |
| Amendments to Long Service Leave Act |
NSW | ARTIO NSW Industrial Circular 10/2020, issued 26/3/2020 ARTIO NSW Industrial Circular 11/2020, 27/3/2020 For answers to FAQs visit the NSW Industrial Relations website, https://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/employers/nsw-employer-essentials/covic-19-frequently-asked-questions/
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| Standing Down Employees |
ARTIO NSW Industrial Circular 9/2020, issued 26/3/2020 Fair Work Ombudsman website www.coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au |
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| Standing down employees – FAQs |
ARTIO NSW Industrial Circular 11/2020, issued 27/3/2020. NSW Industrial Relations website https://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/employers/nsw-employer-essentials/covic-19-frequently-asked-questions/. |
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| Superannuation |
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ARTIO NSW Information Circular 25/2020, 25/3/2020 ARTIO NSW Information Circular 31/2020, 30/3/2020 For advice on insurance, mental health, early access to super and other super related COVID-19 issues visit the TWUSUPER website: For other information, please visit https://www.twusuper.com.au/forms-and-resources/news/covid-19-your-super-and-available-assistance/
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BUSINESS SUPPORT
| Commercial Tenancies |
ARTIO NSW Information Circular 30/2020, issued 30/3/2020 |
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| ACT | Revenue ACT website: https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/covid-19-assistance |
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| NSW | Service NSW website: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/covid-19-help-small-businesses/commercial-lease-support |
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| Insurance |
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| CTP and Workers Compensation |
NSW |
icare encourages customers to discuss their individual business Telephone: 13 Website: |
| JobSeeker Support |
Commonwealth Treasury |
ARTIO NSW Information Circular 79/2020, 21/7/2020; ARTIO NSW Information Circular 109/2020, 7/8/2020 |
| ATO | ‘The Courier’ 23 April 2020 edition Information on support for employers and businesses related to COVID-19 is available on the ATO website at https://www.ato.gov.au/general/JobKeeper-payment/ |
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| Commonwealth Treasury |
ARTIO NSW Information JobKeeper |
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| Frequently Asked Questions |
ARTIO NSW email to Members 21/4/2020 containing “Guide to the JobKeeper Scheme”, prepared by three barristers who practice in the field of employment law, Ian Neil SC, David Chin SC and Christopher Parkin. |
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| Land Tax Relief Package |
ACT |
Revenue ACT website: https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/covid-19-assistance and click onto |
| NSW |
ARTIO NSW Information Further information: |
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| Payroll Tax Relief |
ARTIO NSW Information Circular 28/2020, 27/3/2020 |
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| ACT | Revenue ACT website: https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/covid-19-assistance |
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| NSW | Revenue NSW website: https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/taxes-duties-levies-royalties/payroll-tax |
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| Small Business Support |
Fed | ARTIO NSW Information Circular 24/2020, 25/3/2020 Telephone: 132 846. Website is: https://business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business |
| Toll Relief |
Transurban may provide toll relief to transport operators affected by COVID-19 through expansion of its Linkt Assist support program. Further information is available at from the Transurban website at: www.linkt.com.au/linkt-assist |
COVID-19 CLINICS AND
COVID-19 HEALTH STATUS
SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS
AUSTRALIANS AND AUSTRALIANS WHOSE SECOND LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH
| Advice and Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders |
The The Commonwealth Dept of Health and Human Services has COVID-19
resources for indigenous Australians. Please visit: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-resources-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people-and-remote-communities |
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| Resources for English as a Second Language Australians |
The Commonwealth Dept of Health and Human Services has a list of resources about COVID-19 in 63 other languages, including fact sheets, guidelines and other publications. Please visit https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/translated-coronavirus-covid-19-resources |
WHS ADVICE, MENTAL HEALTH AND DOMESTIC, FAMILY OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE SUPPORT
| Mental Health, Domestic, Family or Sexual Violence Support |
ARTIO NSW Information Circular 32/2020, 30/3/2020 Commonwealth Dept of Health website: https://headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support/covid-19 |
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| Mental Health Support |
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Beyond Blue Telephone: 1800 224636 Website: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ |
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Lifeline Telephone: 13 11 44 Website: https://www.lifeline.org.au/ |
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| Domestic, Family or Sexual Violence |
If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of domestic, family or sexual violence contact 1800RESPECT or Mensline Australia. |
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1800RESPECT Telephone: 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) Website: www.1800respect.org.au |
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Mensline Australia Telephone: 1300 789978 Website: https://mensline.org.au/ |
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| WHS Advice | ||
| Employer obligations under NSW WHS law |
For further information please visit the SafeWork NSW website: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/resource-library/COVID-19-Coronavirus. |
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| National COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles | The Safe Work Australia website provides advice on National COVID-19 safe workplace principles. Visit: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/other-resources/national-covid-19-safe-workplace-principles | |
| Personal Protective Equipment Suppliers | NSW |
The NSW Government has established a link to encourage NSW based businesses to purchase personal protective equipment products, including hand sanitiser, handwash and soap, gloves, disinfectant, gowns, masks, eyewear and paper products from NSW based suppliers. It says over 200 suppliers have indicated they can service PPE needs. For further information visit https://buy.nsw.gov.au/news/2020/ppe-supplies-portal-for-industry-andthe-community. |
| Pharmacy Trading Hours | NSW | Pharmacies are allowed to trade 24/7 in NSW. |
| Planning tool to help businesses reopen and be COVID safe | The Dept of Prime Minister and Cabinet website provides advice on how to planning the reopening of businesses reopen and be COVID safe. Visit: https://www.pmc.gov.au/nccc/resources/planning-tool-help-businesses-reopen-and-be-covidsafe | |
| Return to Work Support | NSW |
The State Insurance Regulatory Agency is providing support for employers with return to work programs under the JobCover6 program. Benefits include: · Incentive payments of up to $10,400 for up to 6 months. · Exemption of the worker’s wages from their workers compensation premium calculation for two years. · Protection against the costs of changes to the worker’s existing injury for up to two years.
Support is provided for up to 6 months’ duration to a worker recovering from a work-related injury, where the worker is looking for new employment. Further information, including eligibility criteria, is available from https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/resources-library/workers-compensation-resources/publications/help-with-getting-people-back-to-work/jobcover6-supporting-recovery-at-work-during-the-covid-19-period.
· The Connect2Work program which offers a $200 weekly payment for up to 12 weeks to an employer who can provide work placement for at least 15 hours a week to a worker. These support programs apply to workers injured at work or in a motor vehicle crash. Further information on Connect2Work is available at https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/resources-library/workerscompensation-resources/publications/help-with-getting-people-back-to-work/connect2work-guidancematerial |
| WHS Advice | ACT | The Access Canberra website has general WHS advice for employers. Please visit: https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/5015/~/work%2C-health-and-safety-and-covid-19—what-you-need-to-know |
| WHS advice for industry sectors | The Safe Work Australia website provides advice for specific industry sectors. Visit: For delivery drivers: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/industry-information/delivery-drivers For road freight: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/industry-information/road-freight For warehousing and logistics: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces/industry-information/warehousing-and-logistics |
SPONSORS
ARTIO NSW thanks the following for their support.
