The delivery of essential goods to Victorians families and businesses is being tangled in Daniel Andrews web of rules for interstate freight drivers and causing chaos on state borders.

On Monday, truck drivers were refused entry into South Australia after testing requirements were changed – with no freight friendly testing site nearby, truckies were forced to turn around and park their trucks around the Horsham Hospital to have a test and meet the new entry requirements.

All State Governments must immediately implement a uniform set of rules for interstate freight to stop this chaos and confusion. National Cabinet agreed to a framework but states are not compelled to implement it meaning each state has its own set of rules and requirements which leaves truckies caught in the middle.

The Liberal Nationals have a plan to keep freight moving, with an increase in freight-friendly testing sites, introduction of rapid testing, priority vaccination appointments and making freight workers exempt from the authorised worker permit system.

We now also call on the Andrews Labor Government to work with our neighbouring states to adopt the National Cabinet framework and ensure a uniform set of rules on state borders to keep freight moving to where it needs to be.

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Ports and Freight, Roma Britnell:

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Ports and Freight, Roma Britnell:

“Our truckies have had enough – they are being caught in the tangled web of border entry requirement that each state puts in place.

“The supply chain is already pushed to the brink - if we keep making it harder for truckies to do their job, the system will fall over and Victorians won’t have the goods they need.

“Daniel Andrews is guilty of having no plan to work with neighbouring states towards a standard set of rules to keep interstate freight flowing.”

Statement issued by
Roma Britnell
Member for South-West Coast