New Mandate for Ride-Share and Passenger Transport

On Monday evening SA Health announced a vaccination mandate for passenger transport services operating from the airport.

From 25 November 2021, all ‘point to point drivers’ (for example, drivers of taxis or ride-share vehicles) must not transport passengers to or from an airport unless they have had at least one dose of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine (with proof of a second booking).

The same rules will apply for drivers of a ‘passenger transport service’ (for example, bus drivers), but they will have until 12 December 2021 to get vaccinated.

‘Passenger transport service’ for the purpose of the Direction is defined by the Passenger Transport Act 1994, and includes those coming into contact with drivers, for example, security guards, depot workers or ticketing officers. It does not include private carpooling arrangements, as long as the maximum number of persons in the vehicle is 8.

This mandate is one of several being introduced in South Australia as we reopen our borders (see our previous alert on mandates here).

EMA Legal can assist employers with their queries related to vaccination mandates.