The proposed vaccine mandate is stirring controversy for members of the local community as the NSW re-opening draws nearer. Supposedly, the ‘vaccine passport’ will be displayed through a state Vaccine Pass App.

Monday October 11 will see fully vaccinated people being able to attend certain events, hospitality venues and business such as gyms, retail stores and salons. Those who are yet to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or don’t intend to, are set to miss out on the fun until the 90% double vaccination milestone. 

Businesses who fail to comply with the mandate by hosting unvaccinated people will face thousands of dollars in fines. 

The intention behind this mandate is to keep those vaccinated safe and community transmission low. In practice, however, suggestions are being made that it is unfair to hold business owners responsible for enforcing and upholding laws that are likely to upset those without their freedom.  

Member for Barwon Roy Butler has been vocal at his disapproval of the mandate since its release, under the impression that staff will face abuse similar to what occured at the beginnings of the state-wide mask mandate.

“Many of my regional hospitality venues employ young people as wait staff or front of house staff. Putting the onus on a 15 or 16-year-old to challenge an adult who may have a very fixed view on vaccination, health privacy or the orders is far from ideal,” Mr Barwon said. 

Initially, some businesses had announced they would accept customers both with and without vaccinations, as a way to get back on their feet and make up for lost income, but the government has made it clear that this won’t be an option.

The mandate was announced by then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who said that the health order was black and white with no exceptions. 

“We need to consider what the unvaccinated population could do to our hospital system, and the rate that the disease can still spread if people are unvaccinated,” Ms Berejiklian said. 

Experts have said that while vaccine passports will be the key to NSW and Australia opening up, there are flaws that are yet to be addressed, including access to the passports for those who don’t have phones, and mitigating the risk of counterfeit evidence of vaccination. 

With NSW hitting the double dose milestone of 70 per cent on Wednesday, October 6, the partial reopening of the state is just a day away, yet the actual vaccine pass app is projected to be released in ten to 14 days. 

The gap between re-opening and the proof of vaccination app leaves an awkward middle ground for businesses to navigate vaccine enforcement.

“This app should have been ready to rollout from Monday, instead businesses will be waiting weeks with what Minister Ayres (NSW Deputy Liberal Leader) calls a transition period, which provides absolutely no certainty for businesses across this state,” said Shadow Minister for Customer Service and Digital Ms Yasmin Catley. 

There is hope and perhaps expectation that both businesses and customers will learn to deal with enforcing the change just as they have with the introduction of QR Code Check-ins and the wearing of face masks. 

Despite the reiteration of NSW Government that vaccines are compulsory to participate outside of stay-at-home orders until 90% vaccinations, Mr Butler continues to lobby for reconsideration. 

“Freedom doesn’t and shouldn’t ever come with terms and conditions – that’s not freedom,” Mr Butler said.