CORONAVIRUS —
TRANSPORT, FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS DIRECTIONS (NO 4)
676. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to Transport, Freight and
Logistics Directions (No 4).
(1) At what time and date were the local governments
of Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Esperance and Wyndham–East
Kimberley officially notified of the direction?
(2) For those
drivers who receive a non-negative result after a rapid antigen test undertaken
when entering into Western Australia and are directed to either Esperance,
Kalgoorlie–Boulder or Kununurra —
(a) how will they
be required to isolate;
(b) what risk
assessment was undertaken to determine the level of isolation; and
(c) what
arrangements have been put in place to accommodate the drivers and their trucks
during the isolation period?
(3) What course
of action will be taken in the event that a truck driver subsequently tests
positive following a PCR test in Esperance, Kalgoorlie–Boulder or
Kununurra?
(4) How many
additional police and health personnel have been deployed in Esperance,
Kalgoorlie–Boulder or Kununurra to deal with the isolation, testing and
potential positive cases?
Hon
MATTHEW SWINBOURN replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police.
The Western Australia Police Force
advises —
(1) On 3 September
2021, it was announced that truck drivers entering Western Australia from a high
or extreme risk COVID-19 location will be
required to submit to rapid antigen testing unless they have returned a negative
test result in the prior 72 hours or be refused entry at the border. The
Transport, Freight and Logistics Directions (No. 4) was published by the
Department of the Premier and Cabinet prior to implementation on 8 September
2021.
(2) Transport,
freight and logistics drivers who receive a non-negative result from a rapid
antigen test will be directed to attend a hospital to present for a COVID-19
test. Once at the hospital, they are to remain in their vehicle and contact the
Department of Health and a relevant health officer will give them directions on
isolation and testing.
(3) Isolation
requirements after testing are managed by the Department of Health.
(4) The Western Australia
Police Force deploys staff to the Eucla and Kununurra borders on a rotational
basis. The management of testing is the responsibility of the Department of
Health.