New exemptions for drivers and learners

The Health Minister has today signed off on a change to the Public Health Order which allows for driving someone to work, and also teaching a learner driver. In short, both are now formally allowed but are subject to some conditions.

More details below:

Driving a family member to work: the Health Minister has confirmed: "The Public Health Order now clarifies that it is permissible to leave your place of residence to transport a member of your household who is authorised to leave home. This allows a person to leave home, for example, to drive another member of their household to work."

In regardes to learner-drivers: The Public Health Order now stipulates:

Exemption under the Public Health (COVID-19 Additional Restrictions for Delta Outbreak) Order (No 2) 2021 under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW)

I, Brad Hazzard MP, Minister for Health and Medical Research , under clause 7.2 of the Public Health (COV/0 -19 Additional Restrictions for Delta Outbreak) Order (No 2) 2021 [NSW] (Order) , hereby grant the following exemption:

1. Despite clauses 3.2 and 4.2 of the Order, an Exempt Person can be away from their residence to undertake a driving lesson or driving supervision of another Exempt Person subject to the following conditions:
   1. There are no other persons in the vehicle other than one other Exempt Person from the same residence or a child 12 years and under, and
   2. The Exempt Person must:
      1. carry evidence showing the person's name and place of residence, and
      2. produce the evidence for inspection if requested to do so by a police officer.
   3. If the Exempt Person resides in an area of concern, this exemption does not operate between the hours of 9pm on a day and 5am on the following day.

In this exemption:

• An Exempt Person means a person who is:
• a learner driver; or
• a person from the same residence as the learner driver who is supervising the learner driver.