The Australian Government recently announced changes to close contact requirements for employees working in a range of critical industries that are close contacts of a person who has tested positive to COVID-19.
In general, once a person who is a close contact has received a negative rapid antigen test (RAT), they may attend the workplace. The COVID-19 isolation rule changes have been introduced to support Australian businesses to manage their workforces during periods of staff shortage due to the impact of COVID-19. Critical industries for the purpose of the revised COVID-19 isolation rules include industries such as:
- Transport, freight and logistics
- Health care and support workers
- Public transport
- Emergency services
- Power utilities and essential infrastructure services, including water, waste and sewage
- Correctional and detention facilities
- Food and beverage employees (excluding hospitality), food distribution and food production
- Telecommunications, data, broadcasting and media
- Childcare and education
Most states and territories are adopting these changes, although all have slightly different interpretations and systems for the operation of these new rules. In some states such as QLD and TAS, registration as a critical industry and submitting a critical worker list to the relevant authority is required. The following states and territories are adopting these changes. Find out more by clicking on the link for the new rules:
QLD:
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/confirmed-cases-and-close-contacts/critically-essential-worker-requirements
NSW:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/business/nsw-rules/exemption-guidance
VIC:
https://www.health.vic.gov.au/covid-19/pandemic-order-register
TAS:
https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/business-and-employees/covid-19-case-and-outbreak-management/temporary-exemption-from-close-contact-quarantine-for-critical-workers-in-critical-industries
SA:
https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations/exposure-sites,-contacts-and-diagnosis-requirements
NT:
https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/business-and-work/essential-workers
For further assistance, please contact the team at Business 360 today:
info@business360pps.com.au or
1300 287 360 
