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'In introducing these new restrictions, the government has made an important distinction between freight drivers … and the rogue activities of these removalists,' he said. Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson has praised these changes and insisted the episode should not be a reflection on the industry. Interstate transport workers coming into Victoria from red zones would now be required to be tested every three days, instead of seven, and carry evidence of a current negative test result. Mr Andrews announced a five-day lockdown on Thursday. 'It is just a change we can make, particularly as things become more unstable and more challenging in terms of more case numbers coming out of Sydney,' he said. Mr Andrews has since banned interstate furniture removalists coming from COVID-19 hot spots to Victoria for the next two weeks. 'They are not here now, and they are not coming back in so there is no purpose served and we have no purpose to prevent the community from using that company.' Loading. 'What I would say to you is that police in three states are looking into those matters so I will leave that work to them,' he said at a press conference on Friday.

Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews declined to name the company involved, leaving the matter with police. There has been a growing chorus amongst Melburnians to 'name and shame' the men. 'When removalists are actively engaged in heavy lifting it may not be safe for their breathing to be restricted through the use of masks.'ĪFRA has not been informed of the identities of the workers or whether they were members of the association. 'The nature of removals work means it is not always possible for removalists to social distance. 'Removalists work under conditions that make social distancing impossible: multiple staff in cabs, close contact with each other and customers and travel across closed borders,' Ms Hill said. It's becoming more and more important because it's not affected by the climate so visitors will come whether it's raining or drought,' she said.Īustralian Furniture Removers Association executive director Simone Hill believed the men were doing the best they could. 'Of course, it's an impact, no one's coming through and travelling and tourism, I define it as drought-proof.

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The 3,000-strong town relied on transport and tourism and this exposure was the latest blow in a series of setbacks for locals. 'All it takes is just one person coming through and as we all know it can then be an exponential increase.' 'It's shaken up the community,' she said. Hay Shire Council Mayor Jenny Dwyer pointed out the town was at the junction of three major highways. On their way back to Sydney on July 10, the men made a series of 30-minute pit stops at a Shell service station in Hay, Shell service station in Jindera and BP Express and Hungry Jacks in Marulan.

There was a stop for petrol and coffee between 7.20am and 8.15am at Tailem Bend (OTR Motorsport Park service station, Dukes Highway) and a furniture drop-off in McLaren Vale before the movers pulled into the Coolabah Tree cafe and Shell service station on the Princes Highway.Īt some point, NSW Health alerted one of the removalists that they were a close contact of a person with coronavirus. Victorian authorities believed they slept in their truck cabins before making their way to Adelaide on July 9. The latter, a visit to Mobil and McDonald's in Ballan, involved the crew taking a shower, staying for more than two hours and not wearing masks, as revealed by CCTV footage. The men's visit to the state was bookended with two breaks at separate service stations. Under the permit conditions, the workers were required to wear a face mask while in Victoria and undergo 'effective self-isolation' where practicable during work and stops.

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Victoria's COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said the moving business was covered under a national code for freight movement but the removalists had withheld crucial information which came to light more than 36 hours after they were interviewed. By 5:00pm to 7:00pm, the removalists had stopped at the Mobil Ballan Westbound and McDonalds Ballan Westbound, both at 6511 Western Freeway.Īt the time, the crew had arrived in Melbourne on a special workers' permit for freight drivers.