Fully vaccinated Australians could be allowed to leave lockdown early and enter bars, pubs, and clubs with a ‘vaccine passport’.
Hospitality bosses are pushing for a reopening of venues as early as next month in an effort to rebuild an industry hard-hit by gruelling lockdowns.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a target of six million vaccines by the end of August and teased plans to offer incentives for vaccinated residents.
She said her government was ‘very keen’ to explore what opportunities could be provided if the jab was incentivised.
Australians who opt to get fully vaccinated could be allowed to leave lockdown early and enter bars, pubs and clubs with a ‘vaccine-passport’
Hospitality bosses are pushing for a reopening of venues as early as next month in an effort to rebuild an industry hard-hit by gruelling lockdowns
‘In particular, we know that people value their freedom, their desire to go back to work, their desire to engage in community life,’ she said.
‘And those are the type of incentives that will be looking at over the next little while to provide our citizens with the opportunities to know, that if they’re vaccinated and their loved ones are vaccinated, there will be opportunities for greater freedom moving forward.’
Hospitality boss Luke Mangan told the Daily Telegraph he welcomed a path to freedom through vaccinations but said from a business standpoint it would only be viable with more jabs in arms.
‘We don’t really have a clear pathway at this stage and that’s very much needed. If there is a vision to get to that point it’s something I would certainly consider,’ he said.
‘What’s the point of us all getting vaccinated and still being locked up?’
ClubsNSW chief executive Josh Landis said any resident who got vaccinated should be allowed ‘life’s usual freedoms’ of enjoying themselves at their local pub.
The lobby group has already made moves to reward double-jabbed patrons with a free drink when the lockdown is finally over.
The push to invite double-jabbed patrons back into venues comes after the NSW Premier announced a target of six million vaccines in arms by the end of August
ClubsNSW chief Josh Landis said he thought any resident who got vaccinated should be allowed ‘life’s usual freedoms’ at their local. Pictured: An empty pub in south-west Sydney
Sydney Restaurant Group owner Bill Drakopolous said hosting double-jabbed patrons in restaurants would be ideal if it meant hospitality could start in September.
‘If that was a way to get our workforce back, dust the cobwebs off our chairs and tables, get trading again, not rely on government handouts to live from week to week… we’ll do that with open arms,’ he said.
Sydney pub baron Justin Hemmes made an emotional appeal to his workers to get vaccinated so his popular Sydney venues could open as soon as next month.
The hospitality mogul made the impassioned plea after the government predicted 80 per cent of the population would be jabbed by November.
Mr Hemmes said the ‘wonderful news’ meant lockdowns could be lifted and restrictions eased enough to welcome guests back in to his popular venues.
‘There is a road to recovery, we all have a role to play in it. If you are willing, please get vaccinated,’ he said.
‘The AstraZeneca [vaccine] is available within three days of booking and for those who are eligible, you can get the Pfizer.’
On Tuesday, the NSW premier announced the path to freedom would hinge on vaccinations as she flagged the state could start reopening in stages
The ambitious target of six million jabs would mean half the eligible population in NSW receiving either their first or second dose of a Covid-19 vaccination in four weeks
NSW recorded 233 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, 47 of which were infectious while in the community.
Sydney is in week six of lockdown, with eight local councils including Parramatta, Blacktown, Campbelltown and Fairfield under tighter restrictions to contain a disproportionate number of cases in those areas.
The state premier announced the path to freedom would hinge on vaccinations as she flagged the state could start reopening in stages.
The ambitious target of six million jabs would mean half the eligible population receiving either their first or second dose of a Covid-19 vaccination in four weeks.
Ms Berejiklian said the state would start focusing on providing incentives for what ‘people really want’.
‘They want peace of mind that they can move more freely, send their kids to school, work, so any incentives around those things we think are great motivators,’ she said.
On Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said NSW could only look at easing restrictions if the number of cases infectious in the community was ‘down to a level where they can be suppressed and contained’.
Ms Berejiklian said it was still her goal to get infections as close to zero as possible, but said vaccination rates would also determine the softening of restrictions.
Ms Berejiklian said the state would start focusing on providing incentives for what ‘people really want’ and said her government was ‘very keen’ to explore their options
In audio obtained by Daily Mail Australia last week, the Mr Morrison hinted at bringing in restrictions for Australians who refuse to get the vaccine.
This could include keeping them out of venues such as pubs and restaurants during a conference call with constituents from the Sutherland Shire on Thursday.
He was speaking with voters from the Cook electorate in Sydney’s south when ‘Steve’ from Cronulla suggested support should be given to businesses such as cafes, restaurants, pubs by allowing them to open to fully-vaccinated patrons only.
Mr Morrison agreed and said the proposal would likely be considered once a higher percentage of the population had the vaccine.
‘If you’re vaccinated, you’re less of a public health risk than you are to someone who’s unvaccinated,’ he said.
‘I think the time will come when exactly what you’re suggesting should be able to be achieved.
Meanwhile, plans are already underway to make ‘vaccine passports’ mandatory in NSW while a similar approach is being considered in Victoria.
Only fans who are double-jabbed will be able to visit a stadium and watch big sporting events like the NRL, AFL or cricket.
Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd will put forward his proposal to the state government in the next few weeks and hopes they will be approved by next year.
Only fans who are double-jabbed will be able to visit a stadium and watch big sporting events like the NRL, AFL or cricket under plans to make ‘vaccine passports’ mandatory in NSW
The Labor government recently called for a $300 payment to fully vaccinated Australians to speed up the vaccine rollout and stimulate the economy
The premier said vaccinated fans being able to attend games would be part of a wider attempt to incentivise people to get the jab.
It comes as the Labor government called for a $300 payment to fully vaccinated Australians to speed up the vaccine rollout and stimulate the economy.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese wants the government to provide a one-off $300 payment to every person who has been fully vaccinated by December 1.
‘The government has failed on its two jobs this year, the rollout of the vaccine and fixing quarantine,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘It needs to use every measure at its disposal to protect Australians and our economy.’