Wellington

Over the past few days I have had some questions in relation to COVID-19 and the testing of drivers, as well as licence renewals. Today the Minister of Customer Service Victor Dominello MP has released the latest information, which is as follows: DRIVER TESTING In response to the latest health advice and risks associated with COVID-19, driver testing across NSW has been postponed for a minimum period of 2 months. This change comes into effect immediately, and applies to all practical driver assessments conducted by Service NSW. Note: This does not apply to assessments conducted via the Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment

Advice from NSW Health indicates that there are three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Dubbo electorate, and NSW Health is working with those people and anyone who may have been in contact with those people to try and minimise the spread of the virus in our region. I can also confirm there was a Qantas flight on March 20, QF 2046, that has had a passenger return a positive test to Coronavirus, and once again NSW Health is doing the necessary tracing to make contact with people who may have been in close contact with the person. I understand

While COVID-19 has caused havoc with the lives of people across NSW, Australia and the world, a fund designed to help people in regional areas run events will proceed with the application process in an effort to ensure things return to normal post the pandemic. Destination NSW will continue accepting Regional Event Fund applications from event owners to support NSW communities to attract visitors and provide a boost to local businesses, with applications for the NSW Government’s $1 million Regional Event Fund open through to midnight Wednesday 25 March 2020, after which all submissions will be assessed based on merit.

On Thursday afternoon, it was confirmed that a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 had been on flights that had flown into and out of Dubbo Regional Airport on March 10. The flights in question were the 6.45am service from Sydney to Dubbo, and the 1.20pm service from Dubbo to Sydney, meaning the person was in the region for a period of approximately five hours. I have been in contact with senior management within the Western NSW Local Health District (LHD) and work is being done to ensure contact is made with people who have come into contact with

On Thursday, the Western NSW Local Health District confirmed a case of COVID-19 in Bathurst, and a further case in Orange. It is important to note that at this point in time, while testing has been taking place, there are no confirmed cases in Dubbo, Wellington, Narromine or Mudgee. The state’s total, at the time of this release being distributed, is now 307 confirmed cases across NSW. The NSW Government will be basing about 20 agencies dealing with the response to the COVID-19 outbreak at the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) headquarters at Lidcombe, including police, health, education and transport