Operational protocol for freight movements entering Queensland

Effective from: 1.00am AEST 7 January 2022

This protocol has been developed for the purposes of the Border Restrictions Direction.

Preface

  1. The operational protocol for freight movements entering Queensland (QLD Freight Protocol) sets out the requirements for heavy vehicle drivers, rail crew and drivers, non-heavy vehicle commercial freight operators, logistics and support workers, and any other persons essential to the delivery of freight in the course of a commercial freight movement.

  2. The QLD Freight Protocol is necessary to manage the risk of transmission of COVID-19 from persons who are travelling to and from Queensland who have been in another state or territory in Australia.

  3. The QLD Freight Protocol is only enforceable within Queensland.

  4. The QLD Freight Protocol has been developed, in part, to operationalise the Australian Government Protocol for Domestic Border Controls – Freight Movements and Freight Movement Code for the Domestic Border Controls – Freight Movement Protocol (the National Framework) agreed to at National Cabinet. Other jurisdictions may have other requirements and it is your responsibility to understand the requirements applicable in the jurisdiction in which you are travelling.

Application

  1. The QLD Freight Protocol is approved by the Chief Health Officer and referred to in the Border Restrictions Direction (No. 60) or its successors, unless otherwise revoked or amended. The Public Health Directions are made under section 362B of the Public Health Act 2005.

  2. The QLD Freight Protocol applies to any of the following persons who are entering Queensland from another state or territory in Australia:

    1. heavy vehicle drivers

    2. rail crew and rail drivers

    3. non-heavy vehicle commercial freight operators

    4. logistics and support workers

    5. any other persons essential to the delivery of freight in the course of the freight movement.

      Example: Essential persons may include, but are not limited to, two-up drivers, a pilot or escort for an oversized or over mass vehicle, or tow truck driver for heavy vehicle salvage.

  3. Where requirements apply to all of the persons listed in 6(a) to 6(e) above, they will be collectively referred to as freight and logistics operators. Otherwise they will be listed separately.

Requirements for entry into Queensland

  1. Freight and logistics operators entering Queensland from another state or territory in Australia must fulfill all the requirements outlined in the QLD Freight Protocol including:

    1. having a valid Queensland Border Declaration Pass; and

    2. adhering to the mandatory COVID-19 testing requirement which is to immediately undertake a COVID-19 test if, after entering Queensland, the person starts to experience any symptoms consistent with COVID-19;and

    3. adhering to the mandatory vaccination requirements.

      Note: a freight and logistics operator who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 is not permitted to enter Queensland

Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Freight and Logistics – F Pass)

  1. Freight and logistics operators entering Queensland from another state or territory in Australia must have a valid Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Freight and Logistics – F Pass) in order to enter Queensland.

    Note: After 1.00 am 5 October 2021, all freight and logistics operators entering from another state or territory including but not limited to a COVID-19 hotspot must have a valid Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Freight and Logistics – F pass).

  2. A Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Freight and Logistics - F Pass) is valid for 14 days from the day of issue or unless a freight and logistics operators’ circumstances change, whichever is shorter.

  3. A Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Freight and Logistics - F pass) must be completed by the person named on the pass as it is a personal declaration. It is an offence to provide false, misleading or incorrect information on a Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Freight and Logistics - F pass); punishable by a fine, a court-imposed penalty or up to 6 months imprisonment.

  4. The Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Freight and Logistics - F pass) is available at https://www.qld.gov.au/border-pass.

  5. A person who is entering Queensland as a specialist or essential worker under the Border Restrictions Direction (No.60) must state they are a specialist or essential worker when completing the Queensland Border Declaration Pass and use the Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Specialist or Essential Worker Pass – S Pass) and must not use the Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Freight and Logistics – F Pass) to enter Queensland.

Mandatory COVID-19 testing

  1. A freight and logistics operator who develops symptoms consistent with COVID‑19 must immediately undertake a COVID-19 test and isolate until a negative test result is received.

Mandatory Vaccination

  1. A freight and logistics operator who has been in another state or territory in the previous 14 days must not enter Queensland unless the person is fully vaccinated.

    Note: Evidence of vaccination for paragraph 15 may be the person’s vaccination card, immunisation history or other written evidence provided by their general practitioner. The person will be required to show evidence if required by an emergency officer (public health).

COVID Safe Workplans

  1. On entry into Queensland, freight and logistics operators must be able to access a copy of their employer’s or operator’s current COVID Safe workplan, where one is required and available.

    Note: Under the National Framework COVID Safe workplans are mutually recognised across borders so operators are not required to have a jurisdiction specific plan when undertaking business across States and Territories.

    Note: A template for a freight specific COVID Safe workplan is available at: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/COVIDsafeplan

  2. If a freight and logistics operator has a COVID Safe workplan then all persons must comply with the requirements in the plan in addition to the QLD Freight Protocol.

Other requirements for freight and logistics operators travelling into Queensland

  1. A freight and logistics operator who is on duty and has travelled outside of Queensland in the last 14 days Queensland must:

    1. check in at all venues and document all interactions by registering applicable QR codes or filling supplementary work diary record sheets where no electronic means of tracking is available; and

    2. undertake daily COVID-19 symptom screening and be tested if they develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19; and

    3. access education and training to recognise COVID-19 symptoms and follow relevant protocols if symptoms occur and

    4. access daily risk communication related to declared Commonwealth hotspots, Queensland Chief Health Officer declared hotspots, jurisdictional lockdowns and required control measures.

  2. A freight and logistics operator in Queensland must comply with all other Queensland Public Health Directions.

  3. In addition to the requirements in paragraph 18, a non-Queensland resident freight and logistics operator while in Queensland must:

    1. only remain in Queensland for the time necessary to complete the essential activity; and

    2. stay at overnight accommodation only when necessary in order to fulfil fatigue management requirements.

Repositioning freight and logistics operators

  1. A Queensland resident freight and logistics operator can re-enter Queensland to reposition for work as a freight and logistics operator if:

    1. in the course of undertaking a freight or logistics essential activity they are required to enter another State or Territory in Australia; and

    2. the freight and logistics activity is complete; and

    3. the person immediately repositions to Queensland by road, rail or air from an approved airport.

    Example: A Queensland resident freight and logistics operator moves a heavy vehicle from Brisbane to Melbourne, leaving the vehicle at the depot. The Queensland resident may return to Queensland by air to reposition for work as a freight and logistics operator in Queensland. The Queensland resident freight and logistics operator must still satisfy all other requirements under the QLD Freight Protocol.

  2. A non-Queensland resident freight and logistics operator can enter Queensland by road, rail, sea or air from an approved airport to immediately commence work as a freight and logistics operator undertaking a freight and logistics activity if:

    1. in the course of undertaking the freight or logistics activity they are required to move between Queensland and another State or Territory in Australia; and

    2. the person complies with all other requirements of the QLD freight protocol and other Public Health Directions.

    Example: A freight and logistics operator may cross the border by car for a freight and logistics task commencing in Queensland.  The freight and logistics operator must still comply with all other requirements of the QLD freight protocol.

Symptomatic freight and logistics operators

  1. Despite paragraph 20, any freight and logistics operators who, while in Queensland, develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must:

    1. cease working as soon as safe to do so; and

    2. isolate once ceased working; and

    3. undertake a COVID-19 test; and

    4. remain isolated until a negative COVID-19 test result is received; and

    5. must not continue the journey until a negative COVID-19 test result is received or they have ended their isolation as permitted under a Queensland Public Health Direction.

  2. In addition to paragraph 23, a freight and logistics operator who tests positive for COVID-19 should follow their employer’s COVID Safe workplan, if any.

Personal protective equipment

  1. Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face masks, must be used when physical distancing is required under a Queensland Public Health Direction and is not possible, or when prescribed by:

    1. Queensland Health;

    2. Safe Work Australia; and/or

    3. an industry, site-specific, or employer COVID Safe workplans.

Definitions

  1. Approved airport has the same meaning as Border Restrictions Direction (No. 60) or its successors.

  2. COVID-19 hotspot means a particular area of Australia decided by the Queensland Chief Health Officer and published on the Queensland Health website. (https://www.health.QLD.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers/declared-hotspots-direction ).

  3. COVID-19 PCR test means for a person who is:

    1. 12 months of age or over, an oropharyngeal and deep nasal swab for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to detect whether a person has the COVID-19 virus; or

    2. under 12 months of age, a saliva swab for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to detect whether a person has the COVID-19 virus.

  4. COVID-19 test means a COVID-19 PCR test or Rapid Antigen Test approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

  5. Diagnosed person means a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 under the public health directions or public health orders in another Australian State or Territory, and in Queensland has the same meaning as under the Isolation of Diagnosed Cases and Management of Close Contacts Direction (No.2) or its successors.

  6. Eligible health professional means any of the following:

  • a fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (as defined by the Health Insurance Act 1973 Cth); or

  • a fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (as defined by the Health Insurance Act 1973 Cth); or

  • a person on Medicare’s Vocation Register of General Practitioners (as defined by the Health Insurance Act 1973 Cth); or

  • a practice registrar on an approved 3GA training placement; or

  • a paediatrician; or

  • a public health physician; or

  • an infectious diseases physician; or

  • a clinical immunologist.

  1. Emergency officer (public health) means an emergency officer appointed under the Public Health Act 2005.

    Note: emergency officers appointed under the Public Health Act 2005 includes public service officers, including public health officers, Police, Transport Inspectors, Senior Network Officers, and fire and emergency services personnel.

  2. Evidence of a medical contraindication means the person has a current:

    1. COVID-19 vaccine medical exemption recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register, or

    2. Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation medical exemptions form completed and signed by an eligible health professional for the COVID-19 vaccine.

    Note: some medical contraindications are temporary and therefore the record or completed from may only be valid for a period of time. A current completed and signed AIR immunisation medical exemption form is valid in printed or digital form.

  1. Freight and logistics operators mean any of the following persons who in the 14 days prior to arrival in Queensland have been in another state or territory in Australia:

    1. heavy vehicle drivers; or

    2. rail crew and rail drivers; or

    3. non-heavy vehicle commercial freight operators; or

    4. logistics and support workers; or

    5. any other persons essential to the delivery of freight in the course of a freight movement,
      Example: Essential persons may include, but are not limited to, two-up drivers, a pilot or escort for an oversized or over mass vehicle, or tow truck driver for heavy vehicle salvage.

    6. Any of 34(a) to 34(e) must be:

      1. transporting freight to, from or through Queensland under a commercial freight operation and any other person in the vehicle who is essential for the delivery of the freight; or

      2. providing logistics and support for the transport which requires the person to be physically present in Queensland to provide the logistics or support. Their entry may be separate to the freight movement; or

      3. repositioning in Queensland immediately before commencing a shift for one of the purposes in (i) to (ii).

  2. Fully vaccinated means a person:

    1. has received the prescribed number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and it has been 7 days since the final dose; or

    2. is under 16 years of age; or

    3. is unable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine because of a medical contraindication and has evidence of a medical contraindication; or

    4. has a medical certificate or letter from a medical practitioner registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Queensland) certifying that the person is currently taking part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial and receipt of a Therapeutic Goods Administration approved vaccine would impact the validity of the trial.

      Note: The medical certificate or letter from a medical practitioner about the clinical trial will only be valid for a period of time.

    Note: Proof of receiving the prescribed number of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine includes a COVID-19 digital certificate, an immunisation history statement (printed or digital) or an international COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

  1. Heavy vehicle drivers are persons who drive vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) or aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of more than 4.5 tonnes.

  2. Logistics and support workers are persons providing logistics and support for freight and logistics operations which requires the person to be physically present in Queensland to provide the logistics or support.

    Example: a specialist mechanic or rail engineer providing mechanical or engineering support for the transport of goods is providing an essential activity. A logistics and support worker may enter Queensland separately to the freight movement e.g. a rail inspector arriving by air to undertake an inspection activity in Queensland. Activities that can be performed remotely such as a person providing administrative support or a manager attending a meeting are not essential activities.

  3. National Framework means the Australian Government Protocol for Domestic Border Controls – Freight Movements and Freight Movement Code for the Domestic Border Controls – Freight Movement Protocol.

  4. Non-heavy vehicle drivers are persons who drive vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) or aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of 4.5 tonnes or less.

  5. Physical distancing means maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 metres from another person where persons are not members of a household.

  6. Public health officer includes an emergency officer under section 315 of the Public Health Act 2005, a contact tracing officer under section 90 of the Public Health Act 2005 or an authorised person under section 377 of the Public Health Act 2005.

  7. QLD Freight Protocol means this operational protocol for freight movements entering Queensland.

  8. Queensland resident is a person whose primary place of residence is in Queensland

  9. Rapid Antigen Test means a rapid antigen test approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

  10. Safe travel zone country has the same meaning as in the Quarantine for International Arrivals Direction (No. 18), or its successors.

  11. Specialist or essential worker means a person providing services in Queensland who has been endorsed by a Queensland Government Agency under Border Restrictions Direction (No.60) or its successor.

  12. Symptoms consistent with COVID-19 means fever or history of fever and, symptoms of acute respiratory infection (cough, shortness of breath, sore throat), headache, loss of smell, loss of taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or fatigue.

Dr John Gerrard Queensland Chief Health OfficerQueensland Health

7 January 2022

Find a testing clinic

Freight drivers can be tested at Queensland Health testing clinics. Select the filter "Transport and logistics worker testing" to find a location where you can be tested free of charge.

Operators can show their ID Card and valid Queensland Border Declaration Pass (Freight and Logistics) to health workers when they arrive to be prioritised for testing.

Costs may be incurred if operators go to a private testing facility.

Last updated: 15 January 2022