Melbourne to Sydney Travel

kdsthegreat on 03/04/2020 - 09:35

Hi guys,
I have a question on domestic travel. The government has said not to participate in non-essential domestic travel. I need to travel to Sydney from Melbourne for my job, but am worried on landing in Sydney I will be ambushed like in a North Korea type situation with police asking for proof, letters of support etc etc.

From what I can tell the NSW / VIC borders are still open, and there are flights as well.

I would literally be landing, catching a taxi to my hotel, leaving the hotel just for work and then returning to Melbourne.

Is this illegal? What are your thoughts? Anyone traveled in the past few days between Melbourne and Sydney? Whats the airport situation like?

Travel

Comments

  • chasis on 03/04/2020 - 09:45
    +3

    Have your boss write you a letter to carry explaining why it is essential travel. Make sure it is on company letterhead.

    Our company made these available to us if we are required to travel.

  • dasher86 on 03/04/2020 - 09:45
    +9

    I would speak to my employer about not going.
    Sydney is currently worse off than Melbourne
    It is not worth the risk of going and bringing anything back on a flight to Melbourne.

    I actually can't believe an employer will allow/want travel domestically at this time.

    • jjjaar on 03/04/2020 - 10:08
      +4

      Agreed.

      What is it you do, and do you really have to physically be there to do it?

      • [Deactivated] on 03/04/2020 - 11:20
        +2

        NSW Health publishes recent flights with confirmed cases of COVID-19 online - unsure whether other states have similar.

        My husband's employer requested he travel interstate for work last week - his colleague responded to the email with a reply all & included the above link.

    • netjock on 03/04/2020 - 11:21

      Virus capital of Australia.

  • Ghost47 on 03/04/2020 - 10:21
    +4

    IF you can't work remotely, I would say that your travel is essential.

    Can you drive? Simply because I would try to avoid being in a space with a bunch of strangers (but who knows how busy the flights are these days). Self isolation isn't required for interstate travel it seems.

    • Fake News on 03/04/2020 - 12:49
      +1

      Queensland now has hard border controls with NSW…

      • Ghost47 on 03/04/2020 - 13:04

        Yeah it depends on the state. I know for Tas that you need to self-isolate for 14 days because they have effectively closed their borders, NSW and VIC haven't as yet (OP is wondering about travelling between those two).

        To be honest the fragmentation makes it slightly confusing. It's also somewhat dynamic so who knows what'll be in place at the end of next week.

  • Randxyz123 on 03/04/2020 - 11:54
    +3

    Can you use Webex, teams, zoom etc? I would be refusing to go or getting 14 days paid isolation time(not sick/annual leave) if necessary.

  • TheBilly on 03/04/2020 - 12:31
    +1

    Why not drive? It's a two day drive there and back, you will remain isolated in your vehicle etc. I think the drive is 9 hours and then if you catch a flight, lets say it takes you 1.5 hours to travel to the airport and check in on both sides and 1 hours to fly, you are spending 4 hours flying anyway.

  • Fake News on 03/04/2020 - 12:48

    Surely it's only a matter of time that the government implements a mandatory 14 days of isolation if you travel interstate… If that's the case you won't be able to attend the meetings anyway…

  • xuqi on 03/04/2020 - 13:04

    No restrictions for travel between Victoria & NSW as of now. How & when that may change nobody knows:

    https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/regions-industry-agricu…

    National restrictions and advice on non-essential gatherings applies.

    https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/20…

    https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
    31 March 2020

    The Victorian Government is directing all Victorians to stay at home to help limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). To date, the majority of confirmed cases of coronavirus are linked to overseas travel, however there are an increasing number of locally acquired cases emerging in the community. By staying at home and limiting your contact with other people, we can all reduce the spread of the virus.
    If you can stay home, you must stay home.

  • Meho2026 on 03/04/2020 - 17:17

    The reason there are no restrictions between NSW and VIC is because both state governments agreed it would be impossible to police. There are too many border crossings between the two states compared to the other state and territory borders.

    If they could police these borders they would not allow non essential travel.

    Your employer should not be requiring you to travel interstate unless you are part of an essential service.

    Look at the lengths QLD are going to at Tweed heads/Cooly to keep us out of QLD.

    Dont underestimate the potential for disaster in NSW, the Ruby Princess docking in Sydney and disembarking 2700 passengers at 2am knowing some were sick, Sydney eastern beach goers refusing to socially distance has created huge problems.

    Residents of Bondi Beach are now being tested if they have any symptoms, exempt from the rest of the testing criteria because its a recognised cluster spot, more like cluster (profanity).

    There is something wrong with your boss expecting you to do this. They are either completely stupid or naive.

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