“You couldn’t put an arbitrary date in without acknowledging there would be supply issues when you’re talking about statewide vaccination – you’ve got to make it realistic,” he said.
“Our view is, let’s incentivise drivers in freight by way of bonuses, gift cards and a range of things.”
The discussions follow five truck drivers from NSW testing positive to coronavirus this week after entering South Australia and one who drove to Queensland testing positive on Wednesday.
A statewide vaccine mandate is not explicitly on the agenda but is a possibility in light of jab requirements for hundreds of thousands of authorised workers in western Sydney hotspots, which cover major logistic and supply chain hubs and kick in from Monday.
Any mandate could prove controversial after some truckies this week protested a Queensland requirement that drivers, and other essential workers, be vaccinated to cross the border.
Transport Workers Union NSW secretary Richard Olsen said: “The TWU supports vaccination and encourages everyone able to get vaccinated to get the jab, but we have serious concerns about a blanket mandate while so many truck drivers still haven’t been able to get vaccinated.
“Truck drivers face unique challenges in accessing COVID vaccines – including irregular work hours, difficulty getting paid time off and not being prioritised in the vaccine rollout,” he said.
“The government needs to be looking at additional measures, such as rapid antigen testing, to strengthen COVID protection for transport workers and the communities they service.”
Australian Logistics Council chief executive Brad Williams said it was “supportive of any practical and pragmatic measure that supports the health, safety and wellbeing of the workforce and the broader community”.
“ALC encourages the government to ensure adequate industry consultation to ensure any measures are workable and the industry has an appropriate time to respond.”
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said it was “seeking the views of industry about vaccination of freight workers”.
“The feedback received from this forum will inform the whole of government response to freight workers and the continued safe operation of the supply chain.”
Last week, the NSW government backflipped on allowing rapid antigen testing as an alternative to vaccination for Sydney hotspot workers, scrapping it seven days after announcing it.
Mr O’Hara said one of his members, a medium to large transport company, had ordered rapid tests costing $50,000 at 4pm last Friday, only to find they were no longer needed when the requirement was removed at 8.30pm that night.
“If NSW Health needs more rapid antigen tests we have some we’re prepared to sell them,” Mr O’Hara said.
Clyde & Co workplace safety lawyer Michael Tooma said any vaccination mandate needed “to cater to the minority of workforces where vaccination is not a viable option”, citing the vaccine hesitant, and said rapid antigen testing was a necessary alternative.
“There are concerns it will be difficult to redeploy or replace the small proportion of the workforce that might be affected and that might cause business continuity issues for some organisations,” he said.
“Rapid antigen testing allows that portion of the workforce to be accommodated and for safety issues to be addressed and really provides businesses with an option to keep a proportion of the workforce gainfully employed and servicing the employer.”