Mandatory vaccination could bring trucks to a halt as drivers refuse to do cross-border deliveries

Introducing mandatory vaccination for WA truckies during a “chronic” driver shortage could bring retail to a grinding halt and see drivers walk away from their jobs, according to a concerned industry leader. East coast truck drivers are protesting against the move in Queensland and South Australia, refusing to do cross-border deliveries with some companies losing up to 10 per cent of drivers. Hundreds of jobs are going begging across the State’s fleet, with transport companies pushed to their limits keeping essential goods going across the country. Bringing in mandatory vaccination in that climate could cause major disruption to the system, according to Western Roads Federation chief executive Cam Dumesny. He said even those trying to get vaccinated were struggling due to their odd hours not coinciding with vaccine clinic opening hours and the complexities of being in different States throughout their week. “We’ve got to make it possible for them to get vaccinated,” Mr Dumesny said. “I was speaking with one company who had a driver from NSW. They had paid for him to get his first vaccination over east, but when he was due for his second shot he was in WA and couldn’t get in anywhere.” On Friday Premier Mark McGowan announced all truck drivers from high or extreme-risk jurisdictions would have to test negative for COVID-19 within three days — down from five — of their arrival in WA. Drivers who do not receive their swab results before they reach WA will undergo a rapid antigen test at border checkpoints in Eucla and Kununurra. The new measures come after two truck drivers from NSW stopped at multiple service stations in regional WA, before receiving positive test results and sparking immediate contact-tracing efforts. All 24 close and casual contacts identified tested negative. Several regional and metropolitan locations across the State were listed as exposure sites, including fuel stations in Norseman, Widgiemooltha, Yellowdine and Southern Cross, as well as a a trucking yard in Kenwick and a freight warehouse in Kewdale. Shire of Dundas president Laurene Bonza called Norseman a “ticking little time bomb” and called for a more rigid system of testing for interstate truck drivers. “I think that might alleviate some of the anxiety in town because those truck drivers still need to do their job and get stuff in and out of here, so it would be helpful, but perhaps it could happen with everyone,” she said. Mr Dumesny suggested a three-point testing system for all drivers coming from high or extreme-risk jurisdictions — one before they leave the depot, another when they got to Barkley near the QLD/NT border or Port Augusta in SA, and a final test when they reached WA. “They should return a negative test before they even leave the depot,” he said. “Then have another test at Port Augusta and a rapid antigen test at Norseman or Eucla. Then you’ve got good confidence.”