‘Significant’ Fines for Businesses Serving Unvaccinated Customers: NSW Deputy Leader

‘Significant’ Fines for Businesses Serving Unvaccinated Customers: NSW Deputy Leader
A QR code is seen at the entrance of a restaurant in Sydney's CBD, Australia, on July 13, 2021. Jenny Evans/Getty Images
Daniel Y. Teng
Updated:

Businesses will face “significant fines” if they serve unvaccinated customers, an Australian state leader has announced.

The announcement from the state of New South Wales (NSW) Deputy Premier John Barilaro come after the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian unveiled the “roadmap to freedom” to allow retail outlets and hospitality venues to open their doors to customers once 70 percent of the state population is vaccinated.

“There will be a poster on the front window to say the business is vaccinated,” Barilaro said in comments obtained by The Daily Telegraph. “We will make sure it is very visible for the public.”

“There will be significant fines for breaches,” he said. “There’s going to be a level of trust.”

“But we accept that there’s always going to be a component of people that do the wrong thing, and they don’t always remain compliant,” he added. “That is why the settings are quite strict and quite conservative.”

On Sept. 9, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian formally announced the roadmap that outlined how the state would progress out of the lockdown that has been ongoing since late June to contain an outbreak of the Delta variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

“Freedoms” would be granted to fully vaccinated individuals once 70 percent of the state population was vaccinated, including businesses such as hair salons, gyms, restaurants, and churches.

“And it’s only for people who are vaccinated. So, you have been warned, if you’re not vaccinated, come forward and get the vaccine; otherwise, you won’t be able to participate in the many freedoms that people have at 70 percent vaccination,” Berejiklian told reporters.

The premier said more freedoms would be on offer once 80 percent of the state was vaccinated.

Barilaro and Dr. Kerry Chant, the chief health officer, have also earmarked upgrades to current contact tracing systems to monitor the vaccination status of customers.

The NSW roadmap includes the following:

GATHERINGS IN THE HOME AND PUBLIC SPACES
  • Up to five visitors in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children 12 and under).
  • Up to 20 people can gather outdoors.
HOSPITALITY VENUES, SHOPS AND GYMS
  • Hospitality venues can open with one person per four sq/m inside and one person per two sq/m outside, and standing while drinking will be permitted outside.
  • Shops can open under one person per four sq/m rule.
  • Unvaccinated people will only be allowed to access critical retail shops, such as supermarkets.
  • Personal services—such as hairdressers and nail salons—can open with one person per four sq/m, capped at five clients per premises.
  • Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under one person per four sq/m rule, with classes capped at 20.
  • Sporting facilities including swimming pools can open.
STADIUMS, THEATRES AND MAJOR OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES
  • Major outdoor recreation facilities – including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos – can open with one person per four sq/m, capped at 5000 people.
  • Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
  • Indoor entertainment facilities—including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums, and galleries – can open with one person per four sq/m, or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
WEDDINGS, FUNERALS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP
  • Up to 50 guests can attend weddings and dances, but eating and drinking are only permitted while seated.
  • Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking permitted while seated.
  • Churches and places of worship can open subject to the one person per four sq/m rule, with no singing.
TRAVEL
  • Domestic travel, including trips to regional NSW, is permitted.
  • Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
  • Carpooling will be permitted.
  • Non-vaccinated people under 16 will have access to all outdoor settings but will only be able to visit indoor venues with people from their households.
  • Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so.
  • There will be revised guidance on isolation for close and casual contacts who are fully vaccinated.
MASKS
  • Masks remain mandatory for all indoor public venues—including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises and on planes—and at airports.
  • Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask outdoors.
  • Children aged under 12 won’t need a mask indoors.
SCHOOLS
  • Kindergarten and Year One students will return to the classroom on Oct. 25.
  • Year 12 students undertaking their final HSC exams can study on campus from Oct. 25.
Daniel Y. Teng
Daniel Y. Teng
Writer
Daniel Y. Teng is based in Brisbane, Australia. He focuses on national affairs including federal politics, COVID-19 response, and Australia-China relations. Got a tip? Contact him at [email protected].
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