A change to the public health order announced yesterday will enable workers in regional and rural NSW to carpool to and from work - a move that will be of "significant" benefit to Riverina workers.
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An amendment to the public health order states people in regional and rural NSW who have not visited Greater Sydney in the past 14 days and have had one vaccination may now carpool to and from work under strict COVID-safe guidelines.
The health order now states: "You are allowed to share the car with a person you do not live with (carpool) if you are an 'exempt person' who travels in an 'exempt vehicle' in regional NSW."
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An exempt person is defined as a person who lives in regional NSW, has not been in Greater Sydney in the previous 14 days, and has had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, or is booked in for a first dose by September 10.
An exempt vehicle must be arranged by the employer to transport staff to and from their workplace, must be fitted with a Service NSW QR code and must have open windows where reasonable or a ventilation system that circulates air from the outside. Those in the car must wear a fitted face mask for the duration of the trip.
The change hopes to target the agriculture industry. Riverina farmer and NSW Farmer's Wagga chairperson Alan Brown welcomed the changes, saying with the precautions in place he is confident workers will be kept safe, and costs will be reduced.
"It will have a considerable financial benefit," Mr Brown said.
"It's just the distances our workers have to travel that creates a problem.
"One of my shearers was travelling 75km one way to shear and the others are at least 45km away, so it's been a huge waste of resources and a huge number of vehicles on the road that don't need to be.
"It is the contractor and farmer who end up wearing the cost of that travel, and when they carpool it cuts that down."
In a statement, Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the move was an acknowledgment of the unique challenges regional areas face.
"Living in regional communities and working in agricultural industries that underpin them presents a unique set of logistical challenges, including having to travel vast distances," Mr Barilaro said.
The change applies for any worker that fits the health order's descriptions, not just agricultural workers.
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