Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello says the NSW government will aim to make compliance with vaccination rules "very simple" for business and put the onus on individual customers to do the right thing.
Mr Dominello attended an online forum hosted by Business Hunter on Thursday afternoon to answer questions about how the government will manage the resumption of economic and social activity when NSW hits its 70 per cent vaccination target next month.
That reopening date could be only 17 days away, leaving businesses with little time to plan how they will exclude unvaccinated customers and staff from their premises.
Mr Dominello is preparing a "compliance package" with other ministers which would work in concert with new public health orders.
The package will include a vaccine passport linked to QR codes, though a two-week trial of the technology will not start until October 6.
Some traders are concerned they will be fined if unvaccinated customers are found on their premises.
Hunter Business chief executive Bob Hawes acknowledged the government had to weigh up a complex situation before releasing details of its reopening road map.
"Hopefully Moses will come down from the mountain shortly," he said.
Mr Dominello said businesses would be required to take "reasonable steps" to ensure vaccine compliance, which for very small enterprises could involve merely placing a sign at the door.
"We'll try to make it very simple, understanding that individuals will have the primary responsibility," he said.
Asked whether the government would delay reopening the Hunter due to its low vaccination rates, Mr Dominello said the government would "need to work harder" at increasing vaccine coverage.
Meanwhile, Newcastle's jobless rate remained unchanged at 4.5 per cent in August, though almost 4000 women left the workforce.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated the city shed 3400 jobs between July and August.
In the news
- 41 more COVID-19 cases in Hunter New England and 1063 cases in NSW on Thursday
- Hunter public health controller: Sydney should stay in Sydney
- State parliamentary inquiry finds regional NSW health system in need of "urgent attention"
- 'Surreal': shakes from Victoria 5.9 earthquake felt in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
- 'Unacceptable impacts': Honeysuckle residents oppose Lynch's Hub expansion plans
