NSW Taxi Council Advocates for Taxi Drivers living in the three LGA's to be Authorised Workers

The NSW Taxi Council welcomes the decision that identifies Taxi Drivers as Authorised Workers for Healthcare and Social Assistance Services.

Point to Point Transport Drivers, including Taxi Drivers who live in Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas (LGA) would be permitted to leave their LGA to provide Health care and Social Assistance Services (For example, Department of Veteran Affairs, Healthshare NSW, Family Violence and Sexual Assault Services and Booked Transport for Wheelchair Passengers)

From Saturday and over the weekend, the NSW Taxi Council has been working with the NSW Government, Members of the Opposition and the Point to Point Transport Commission in advocating for Taxi Drivers to be identified as Authorised Workers under the latest Health Order. We are pleased to see this outcome for our Industry.

Nick Abrahim - Deputy CEO, NSW Taxi Council featured on 7 News Sydney advocating for Taxi Drivers to be authorised Workes for Healthcare and Social Assistance Services. Please watch the Video below.

(Source: 7 News Sydney)

Upon agreement with the Point to Point Transport Commissioner, the NSW Taxi Council chose not to release this information until it was cleared by the Transport for NSW Legal Team. Furthermore, not communicating this until confirmed was the request of the Point to Point Transport Commissioner that we chose to respect and uphold.

The NSW Taxi Council are pleased to have been working closely with the NSW Government, the Opposition and the Point to Point Transport Commission to achieve this result.

There are strict conditions for a Taxi Driver when leaving their LGA for work. These conditions must be adhered to accordingly.

What you need to know

Changes for point to point transport drivers, including Taxi Drivers who live in Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool local government areas now in effect

• Under the Public Health Order, residents of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs (see the full list of affected suburbs here) cannot leave their local areas for work. The only people exempt are authorised workers identified by NSW Government — taxi, rideshare and hire car drivers are not authorised workers.

• This means that Taxi, rideshare and hire car drivers as well as staff that work at service providers cannot leave these LGAs to work.

Can drivers provide passenger services within their local government area?

• Point to point transport drivers, including Taxi Drivers who live in these LGAs can provide a passenger service within the LGA they live in if someone needs to travel for an essential reason, as outlined in the Public Health Order. Drivers and passengers must comply with the Public Health Order and restrictions such as, checking in using QR codes and wearing a mask during the provision of passenger services.

Can drivers provide health care and social assistance passenger services outside of the three LGAs?

• Under the Authorised Workers notice as published by NSW Health, anyone transporting passengers solely for the specified health care and social assistance activities listed is exempt when providing the services necessary for that activity.

• This means a driver who lives one of the three LGAs would be permitted to leave their LGA to provide health care and social assistance services. This includes, for example:

• Department of Veteran Affairs

• Healthshare NSW

• Family violence and sexual assault services`

• Booked transport for Wheelchair passengers

• Drivers are only considered an Authorised Worker while providing the health care and social assistance passenger services listed – no additional work can be conducted outside the LGA.

• Drivers should carry evidence that the passenger service complies with the list of specified activities outlined in the Authorised Workers notice.

• If you live in the Fairfield LGA and must leave the area as an authorised worker, you must have a COVID-19 test once every 72 hours (3 days) to be allowed to go to work as an authorised worker. You must have proof of your COVID-19 test such as an SMS text message on your phone or an email addressed to you.

Carpooling

• The Public Health Order has prohibited carpooling in Greater Sydney. Taxis, hire vehicles and rideshare can only provide passenger services to people from within the same household.

• Car pooling has an exemption for providing care or assistance to a vulnerable person as well as in an emergency or for compassionate reasons.

For Further Information, please click here to refer to the Point to Point Transport Commission's update in detail.

If you are a Taxi Driver living in one of the 3 LGA's, we encourage you to please carry this update with you while providing a Taxi Service as an Authorised Worker