MPs and senators from COVID-19 affected areas in Sydney must apply for a formal exemption to travel to the ACT.
The next sitting week begins on February 2, but while the situation may change before then Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said the ACT government is currently processing exemption applications for several parliamentarians.
"We do have a formal exemption process and there are a list of professions including care workers, parliamentarians, construction industry and a whole lot of essential services and we assess that on a case by case basis," Dr Coleman said.
She said exemption applications would be assessed on factors including if travel to the ACT was necessary for applicants to conduct their work.
A spokesperson from ACT Health said exemptions for parliamentarians will be made on a case-by-case basis rather than a blanket exemption.
"Political staffers can apply for an exemption as essential workers, however they will require the support of their member or senator, and may be required to complete a mandatory quarantine period prior to attending their workplace," the spokesperson said.
From 3pm today travel restrictions between the ACT and the northern beaches will be removed allowing quarantine-free travel.
However, people from 10 local government areas in western and southwestern Sydney are still required to quarantine for 14 days if they travel to Canberra.
Those areas are:
- Blacktown City
- Burwood
- Canada Bay City
- Canterbury-Bankstown
- Cumberland
- Fairfield City
- Inner West
- Liverpool City
- Parramatta City
- Strathfield
ACT Health is due to give another update on restrictions on Friday.
