BEREJIKLIAN MUST FIX REGIONAL NSW PERMIT SYSTEM

The Transport Workers’ Union is calling on the NSW Premier to urgently fix issues with the regional NSW travel permit system which make it practically unworkable for truck drivers and other transport workers.

The application form for the permits – which only opened at around 10pm last night despite the system coming into force from 12.01am today – requires workers travelling from Sydney to regional NSW to submit a list of all locations they will be travelling to over a 14 day period. Drivers will also need to apply for a new permit every 14 days.

Astonishingly, in addition to requiring a permit issued by Service NSW, workers will also be required to carry additional ‘evidence to support the reason for [their] travel’ – a requirement which brings into question the purpose of the permits altogether.

TWU NSW/QLD State Secretary Richard Olsen said that the permit system had clearly been designed without any consultation with transport workers or the industry more broadly.

“If Gladys Berejiklian could be bothered asking, any transport worker could tell her this permit system in its current form is a dud for the transport industry.”

“A truck driver can’t possibly be expected to list every single delivery they’re going to make 14 days in advance when applying for these permits.”

“Truck drivers should be able to apply for an ongoing permit. Making them re-apply every 14 days just doesn’t make any sense when the very nature of their work involves travelling across the state.”

“Transport workers keep our supermarket shelves stocked and our state moving during this lockdown, but hair-brained Government decisions like this make their job harder than it needs to be.”

Media Contact: Mitch Wright – 0430 186 590

Screenshots from the Service NSW application form.