STATEMENT – AUSTRALIAN KART CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND ONE

Karting Australia, in conjunction with the Ipswich Kart Club, has assessed the impact on the event as a result of the latest restrictions placed on residents of Victoria and the Greater Melbourne region by the Victorian and Queensland Governments effective of 1:00am Saturday 13 February:

Victoria is under Level 4 restrictions, from 11:59pm tonight.
Queensland is closed to residents or visitors to Greater Melbourne (36 Local Government Areas) for 14 days from 1:00am Saturday 13 February.

Based on all the available information, Karting Australia advises that the opening round of the 2021 SP Tools Australian Kart Championship will proceed as scheduled and planned at Ipswich Kart Club, Queensland on February 19/20.

I know that Drivers who reside in or who have visited Greater Melbourne since 9 February and who have not entered Queensland before 1am tomorrow morning (Saturday 13 February), will be disappointed that the Queensland Government decision means that they cannot race at Round 1. I also know that others will be happy that their plans will not be disrupted. The decision to proceed with the event is not a decision that we have taken lightly. We have taken all the prevailing circumstances into account and have planned for this eventuality.

The points structure for the Championship have been altered for 2021 to cater specifically for such situations with Drivers able to miss a round of the Championship and not affect their Championship standing.

Karting Australia will continue to monitor the situation closely and advise of any changes in the situation that may have an impact on the upcoming event. Following is an extract from the Queensland Government web site: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-directions/border-restrictions

QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS (From the Queensland Government Web Site)

“VICTORIAN RESIDENTS
From 1am AEST Saturday 13 February 2021, anyone entering Queensland who has been anywhere in Victoria on or since 29 January 2021 will need to apply for a border pass before entering Queensland.

Anyone entering Queensland from Greater Melbourne
From 1am AEST Saturday 13 February:

36 Victoria local government areas (LGAs) that make up Greater Melbourne will be declared a COVID-19 hotspot.
If you enter Queensland and have been in any of those LGAs on or since 9 February, you will have to:
- complete a border pass
- enter Queensland by air
- quarantine in government-arranged accommodation for 14 days.

If you have been in Greater Melbourne
If you have been in Greater Melbourne since 29 January 2021 and have arrived into Queensland you should check the list of venues attended by the latest case and:

If you have been to one of these venues you should get tested immediately, isolate for 14 days and please call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
If you have not been to one of the listed venues, you should get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS
From 1am AEST Monday 15 February 2021 all regions of Western Australia will be removed as a COVID-19 hotspot.

See current border restrictions for anyone who has been in Western Australia since 1am AEST 25 January 2021.

NEW SOUTH WALES RESIDENTS
If you have been in New South Wales since 2 February please check the list of venues attended by the latest case and follow the health advice.

If you have been in New South Wales since 2 February and are currently in Queensland please monitor your health, get tested if you have any symptoms then isolate until you receive a result.

There is no decision at this time to close the border. We are monitoring this situation closely and awaiting more information from New South Wales health authorities.”

Regards

Kelvin O’Reilly
Chief Executive Officer