Queensland Entry Requirements – Now Tighter and Tougher for ‘Non-essential Workers’

Teachers, tradespeople, childcare and hospitality workers are among those left stranded at the border as Queensland tightens its entry requirements and definition of ‘Essential Worker,’ in the wake of 3 recent COVID-positive cases in Northern NSW.
The Queensland Government’s website has on Thursday, August 12, updated advice to NSW border residents who’ve been in a Northern Rivers LGA – Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley (Grafton,) Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley (Casino/Evans Head) and Tweed – that entry into Queensland is now only allowed for essential work.

This does not include:
– Teachers
– Anyone who can perform their work remotely, at home
– Childcare workers
– Hospitality workers
– Sales representatives
– Commercial construction workers on non-critical projects

What is ‘essential’ is narrowed to three work categories: for safety reasons, for emergency repairs; and what is necessary to maintain essential services and supplies to the community or part of the community including:
– A medical practitioner or other prescribed health practitioner (including at residential aged care facilities, disability accommodation services and aged care or NDIS supports provided to a person’s home)
– an emergency health services or emergency services worker, national defence, state security or police worker
– a freight or logistics operator
– an emergency infrastructure worker
– air crew or maritime crew
– an emergency volunteer
– a disaster management worker
– a critical infrastructure worker
– a tradesperson or construction worker for essential or emergency construction or repairs ONLY
– an emergency volunteer, volunteering for any community or government welfare, social, safety, emergency or disaster service.

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Tweed Shire Mayor, Cr Chris Cherry told The Northern Rivers Times, Council has on Thursday emailed Cross Border Commissioner James McTavish advising of the blow the tightened restrictions will have on Tweed teachers and construction workers who work over the border in Queensland,
“These two aspects are going to have a huge impact on our Shire,” Cr Chris Cherry said.

“We’ve just sent an email saying you need to sort this out,” she said.

Similarly, Queensland residents are only allowed to enter a Northern Rivers LGA for essential work and that person will be ‘required to quarantine at home when you return to Queensland.’

Those entering Queensland for essential work or returning from essential work in the Northern Rivers Local Government Area may be asked for evidence of performing essential work which could include a letter on employer letterhead, a person’s roster or a booked appointment to show the person needs to be physically present to perform the essential work.