NSW↔VIC Travel possible?

YouSirName on 09/04/2020 - 09:52
Last edited 09/04/2020 - 11:05

Hello

I work in Sydney and my wife lives in Melbourne. Was thinking of driving from Sydney to Melbourne this evening and driving back from Melbourne to Sydney on Monday night. Am I allowed to do this or are there travel restrictions in place? As I understand VIC is strictly against traveling these days? I don’t want to take a risk and pay a thousand bucks fine. Anyone has got more info on the restrictions?

EDIT: I get it, dropping the travel plan. It's been two months since I've met my wife, so thought of driving up to her and coming back. But no, I don't want to get fined! Thanks :)

Travel

Comments

  • Baysew on 09/04/2020 - 10:12
    +9

    Same sort of question as reported in The Betoota Advocate - Tony Abbott Wondering If ‘Picking A Mate Up From Prison’ Counts As Essential Travel

  • nakahanap on 09/04/2020 - 10:14
    +2

    Contact Victoria Police directly and ask them.

    Given people have been fined for giving heir children driving lessons and being too far from home…

    • JimmyF on 09/04/2020 - 10:15
      +1

      Given people have been fined for giving heir children driving lessons and being too far from home…

      fair enough, as this isn't one of the 4 things allowed to leave your home for.

    • theHMASfriendship on 09/04/2020 - 10:38
      +5

      Contact Victoria Police directly and ask them.

      They'd just defer to the consensus of opinion of the forum section of Australia's Foremost Bargain Sharing Community anyway. OP was just cutting out the middle man.

  • JimmyF on 09/04/2020 - 10:14
    +3

    Seriously why don't NSW people get it? STAY HOME!

    As I understand VIC is strictly against traveling these days?

    No that is the entire country.

    https://www.9news.com.au/national/easter-travel-warning-driv…

  • GG57 on 09/04/2020 - 10:16
    +3

    Almost guaranteed that you will be stopped by police and quizzed as to the purpose of your travel. Probably on multiple occasions.

    But nothing to stop you travelling, and if your excuse is good enough you won't get a fine(s).

    • p1 ama on 09/04/2020 - 12:17

      Almost guaranteed that you will be stopped by police and quizzed as to the purpose of your travel. Probably on multiple occasions.

      That's not true at all. It's just like speeding. The police make a big deal out of it on TV and the news, but that's all.

      I have a colleagues who consult for the Australian government and had to relocate to Canberra because the Melbourne offices were shutting. They all drove up to Canberra over the last few days and nobody was stopped or questioned or anything of the kind.

      Also have several friends who had to self-isolate after coming back from overseas a few weeks ago. Again, nobody came around to check.

      Note that I'm not advocating anybody break the law, just like I don't advocate anybody speeding. However, no, there is not police around every corner. It's more likely that most police will be spending time along the popular tourist routes, e.g. GOR or Mornington Penninsula.

      • GG57 on 09/04/2020 - 12:20

        Ok, your view / my view.

        Neither of us, I suspect, have knowledge of the detailed police operational planning for this Easter weekend. OP will decide what they will do.

  • woodg on 09/04/2020 - 10:17
    +1

    If you have to ask then you already know it's not appropriate.

    Just don't go out unless absolutely necessary.

    You will almost certainly be stopped at the border and will be questioned.

    It must be terrible to be separated from your loved ones, but the risk of spreading (or getting) COVID-19 seems to be just too high.

    Oh, and if you get across the border there is no guarantee you will be able return back. Certainly Queensland has just announced that Queensland residents may not be allowed back into Queensland if they have been to NSW.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2020 - 10:22
    +2

    It got pretty confusing after Scomo said his wife buying jigsaw puzzles was essential.

  • YouSirName on 09/04/2020 - 10:23
    +4

    I get it, dropping the travel plan. It's been two months since I've not met my wife, so thought of driving up to her and coming back. But no, I don't want to get fined! Thanks :)

    • pformag on 09/04/2020 - 10:50
      -2

      2 months? Why? Is this healthy for you long term?

      • onetwothreefour on 09/04/2020 - 11:03
        +7

        Sounds like a dream marriage to me.

    • fossilfuel on 09/04/2020 - 19:56
      +1

      I think it's a reasonable excuse if you're visiting your wife. Double check the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020. Keep a copy handy on your phone or on paper.

      I think you're covered under Part 2 Movement 5(2). For the purposes of subclause (I), a reasonable excuse includes doing an activity specified by Schedule I.

      Schedule I:
      * 8 moving to a new place of residence (including a business moving to new premises) or between different places of residence of the person or inspecting a potential new place of residence
      * 16 for emergencies or compassionate reasons

      You'll also need to double check the relevant legislation in VIC as it is different from NSW. The above might be reasonable excuses in NSW but may or may not be in VIC.

      I hope that helps you with your decision making.

      • YouSirName on 09/04/2020 - 21:18
        +1

        Thanks for digging up the information :) Anyways I’ve decided not to travel. I didn’t want to drive with the thought of cops pulling over anytime… May be once the travel restrictions are pulled off, I can drive peacefully :)

        • fossilfuel on 09/04/2020 - 21:59
          +1

          No worries. Even if you did get pulled over, I think you have a reasonable excuse. And if you receive a fine(s), the NSW police commissioner is supposedly reviewing all fines related to COVID-19 and voiding those that have been wrongly issued.

          I think the government, police and health's stance is limit travel as much as possible. I know it's been 2 months since you saw your wife but I'd like to share this visual on squashing the infection rates. I think you've made a great decision to not go and it's probably not an easy decision. Hopefully we can all do our part and this situation resolves quickly.

          The travel restrictions will be in place for 90 days starting from 31/3/2020. Who knows if the restrictions will be extended or relaxed in July.

  • Ghost47 on 09/04/2020 - 10:36
    +1

    The borders between both states are not closed unlike other states so there shouldn't be restrictions at the border.

    The main issue I would say is cops that could fine you for non-essential travel. If you have a good excuse for the travel and proof the cops may let you off with a warning… it's really hard to tell though but cops would be much more stricter I'd say.

  • AJW on 09/04/2020 - 10:50
    +14

    OP asks question and listens to answers…I'm confused?!?

    Well done OP

  • Islund on 09/04/2020 - 10:51
    +1

    I saw somewhere that George Pell was driving up to Sydney.

    • MS Paint on 09/04/2020 - 11:00

      Godspeed

    • [Deactivated] on 09/04/2020 - 11:06
      +1

      He had to carry a Victorian letterhead document reading "No backs".

  • MS Paint on 09/04/2020 - 10:52

    It's been two months since I've not met my wife

    So you have seen here recently then?

    • YouSirName on 09/04/2020 - 11:06

      Edited the OP :)

  • Slinky0111 on 09/04/2020 - 11:08
    +9

    I would go for it. Seeing your wife after 2 months would have to fall under essential care. Shouldn't be hard to get a note from a doctor to state it is for your mental health

    • rambutann on 09/04/2020 - 13:22
      +1

      Yeah i'd agree.. you arent simply going out for a 900km drive for funsies, it has a purpose.

      • iampoor on 09/04/2020 - 13:53

        The purpose is horizontal funsies!

    • wordplay on 09/04/2020 - 18:58

      don't clog up doctors office to write these notes, don't think the OP has really expressed that they are in such desperate need for a road trip.

  • try2bhelpful on 09/04/2020 - 11:25
    +1

    If you haven’t been using something like FaceTime or Zoom I recommend it. We have a couple we usually do a regular Saturday night dinners with. We still do it but just online. Although it is more cheese, wine and a chat than full dinner.

  • mrpoopybutthole on 09/04/2020 - 13:28

    How about travelling between residences? If I have a house in both VIC and NSW, family in NSW and I am currently in VIC, can I travel via flight under exception of travelling between homes?

    Read a bunch of gov websites and still unclear

    • rambutann on 09/04/2020 - 14:12
      +2

      When you say 'family', do you mean your partner and children or your parents/cousins etc?

      If its partner and children, id say you could travel. If not, then no. If your primary place of residence is in Victoria, that's where you should stay, UNLESS you are choosing to change your primary place of residence to NSW…

      • fossilfuel on 09/04/2020 - 20:02

        I agree. mrpoopybutthole can check the public order and hopefully it'll be clearer for him.

  • OzHunterNSW on 10/04/2020 - 10:57
    -5

    Are you mentally challenged, if so, you should not be on the roads.

    Haven't you been watching the news? Do you understand what is going on?

    Hello, hello!

    1: You will be fined $1k+
    2: You have to quarantine for 14 days in VIC.

    When you attempt to return, same will apply.

    Hello, hello, anybody in there!

  • deal88 on 10/04/2020 - 12:37
    +1

    If your license states that your address is in Victoria and you can show you have been working in Sydney then I don’t think you will have a problem getting back home. If travelling by a direct route.

    However, getting back to NSW may be the tricky bit. You will need to show that you have an essential job that can not be done from home. I know many people who have now been provided letters from their employer to state the location of there job and why it is essential they come to the office.

    I did do an essential VIC-NSW trip last week and did not get pulled over, but the police in every state have been told to go hard on the Easter long weekend. So there will be a lot of pulling over and questioning. But police can not be everywhere so people saying they have driven and not been pulled over is irrelevant.

    One good bit of advice I read was to print out a travel plan with date and time. Essentially where you came from and where you are going. Even for a trip to Costco as you have just driven past multiple supermarkets to get there. People are getting pulled over and then making an excuse. If something is preprinted it is clear this is not an excuse on the fly.

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