Vets and Interstate Travel

For Vets wanting to travel both into, and around Australia, there is a raft of new requirements and restrictions. This information was updated on 5th August, but requirements can change rapidly at the moment – please check for up to date information before making travel plans.

• For Vets wanting to come from overseas into Australia: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/coming-australia
• For Interstate Travel, information can be found on the Australian Interstate Quarantine website at https://www.interstatequarantine.org.au/state-and-territory-border-closures/
• DPI Border Info: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/home/covid-19/border-crossing-information

For Vets wanting to cross border into Queensland:

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19

• From 10 July 2020, people who have been in a hotspot in the last 14 days will only be able to enter Queensland if they are a returning Queensland resident or required to enter for a limited range of essential reasons. Queensland residents returning to Queensland from a hotspot must quarantine for 14 days on entering Queensland.
• All of Victoria and Greater Sydney are currently declared COVID-19 hotspots. From 1am Saturday 8 August, all local government areas in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) will also be declared COVID-19 hotspots.
• There is a border zone for NSW/Qld border residents – https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/
• Any person travelling from Australian States or Territories that are not declared COVID-19 hotspots may enter Queensland subject to completing and signing a border declaration & undertaking to have a test if they develop symptoms. Border passes are only valid for 7 days.
• QLD Gov Border info: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/border-closing
• QLD Health Border Directives: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers/border-restrictions
• QLD Border Pass Application: https://www.qld.gov.au/border-pass

For Vets wanting to cross border into New South Wales:

https://preview.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

• From 22nd July anyone who has been in Victoria in the past 14 days must not enter NSW unless they hold a current entry permit.
• Permits are issued subject to conditions, which may include 14 days self-isolation, testing, or abiding by a safety plan. Permits are valid for 14 days. Border Zone Transitional Permits expired on 4th August. If you live in the border zone you can now apply for a new Border Zone Residents Permit if you have not left the border zone in the previous 14 days.
• NSW Border Pass Application with QR code (from Victoria) https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-covid-19-nsw-border-entry-permit
• Hotspots in NSW https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates#latest-covid-19-case-locations-in-nsw

For Vets wanting to travel into ACT:

https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/

• From Wednesday 8 July 2020 the ACT has closed its border for anyone travelling into the ACT from Victoria, unless they have an exemption to enter.
• From July 20th travellers from NSW are required to self-quarantine for 14 days if from affected areas & testing is encouraged https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/travel/nsw
• ACT Border Restrictions: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/news-articles/act-border-restrictions#act-border-restrictions
• Travelling interstate: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/help-and-advice/travellers

For Vets wanting to cross border into Victoria:

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

• Metropolitan Melbourne is currently at stage 4 restrictions; Regional Victoria (including Mitchell Shire) will be at stage 3 restrictions from 11:59pm 5 August.
• From 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 August stay at home restrictions will apply to the whole of Victoria. Face coverings must be worn away from home.
• Metropolitan Melbourne: From 2 August there is a curfew in Metropolitan Melbourne from 8pm to 5am every evening. From 11:59pm 5 August only permitted businesses can open – Vet clinics are permitted industries, with a COVID Safe Plan. Employees must carry a Permitted worker permit. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/permitted-worker-scheme-covid-19 – this is the employer’s responsibility to organise
• Restrictions: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels-covid-19
• If you cross into Victoria at the moment, you may face restrictions & quarantine on leaving the State.

For Vets wanting to cross border into Tasmania:

https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/

• From 17th July a G2G pass QR code is required for all travellers
• Travellers from ‘affected regions or affected premises’ are not allowed to enter Tasmania – https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/travellers-and-visitors/g2g-pass/current-high-risk-locations
• Restrictions: https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/families-community/current-restrictions
• All travellers are currently screened on arrival and must demonstrate they meet the essential traveller criteria.
• All travellers are required to quarantine for 14 days.
• Borders will not be opened to other States until at least 31 August

For Vets wanting to cross border into South Australia:

https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/

• Travel Restrictions: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities/travel-restrictions
• A pre-approval process is in place for travelers wishing to enter South Australia – The Cross Border Travel Registration. All travellers intending to enter SA should register for pre-approval.
• Application for pre-approval: https://www.police.sa.gov.au/online-services/cross-border-travel-application
• From 29 July, travellers from Victoria are not permitted to travel to South Australia, including South Australians.
• Essential travellers living in cross border communities have distance based travel restrictions.
• Non-essential travellers from NSW and ACT must self-quarantine for 14 days, AND submit for COVID-19 testing on the first and 12th days of arrival
• Travellers from NT, Qld, Tas and WA are able to enter SA directly without restriction.
• Police will be stopping travellers at checking points.

For Vets wanting to cross border into Western Australia:

https://www.wa.gov.au/government/covid-19-coronavirus

• Strict border controls are in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. You cannot enter Western Australia without an exemption. Most regional travel restrictions within WA were removed on Friday, 5 June 2020.
• From Sunday 19th July, no one will be allowed into Western Australia if they have been in Victoria or New South Wales in the previous 14 days, unless they meet new exemption requirements. If they do meet requirements, they need to quarantine for 14 days and have a COVID test on arrival and on day 11.
• Border Control: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/covid-19-coronavirus-travel-wa

For Vets wanting to cross border into Northern Territory:

https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/

• From 17th July, all arrivals must fill in a Border Entry Form
• From 17th July, if you are arriving in the Northern Territory from a delcared COVID-19 hot spot (currently the whole of Victoria, plus Sydney, the South Coast NSW, Port Stephens, Brisbane, Ipswich & Logan in QLD), you must complete 14 days of forced quarantine.
• If an area you have been in within 14 days of your arrival in the NT is declared a COVID-19 Hotspot you must contact the COVID-19 Hotline 1800 008002
• Hotspots: https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/quarantine/hotspots-covid-19
• Border Controls: https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/domestic-travel

Thanks to Jo Edwards of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment for compiling this list of links.

Author:
Wendy Nathan
Kookaburra Veterinary Employment

Updated 5th August 2020

This information includes the views and opinions of Kookaburra Veterinary Employment and is of a general nature only. Factual information is believed to be correct at the time of writing, however, should not be relied upon and any person should confirm details with the relevant authorities and through their own research prior to acting on any of the suggestions in this article.