The NSW government released its COVID-19 roadmap to guide a reopening of the state's economy. It has already raised questions. The government's blanket response to these has been in the language that has preceded the roadmap's release. Vaccination is the path to "freedom". Essentially, what a conservative government is asking the community to do is consider the public ahead of the individual. This is novel territory.
Like all new government policies formed without precedent, the next few weeks will reveal what is being asked of business and what supports will be in place to help keep venues safe and trading as normally as possible. The roadmap will likely have a clearer direction over the next few weeks as the mid-October target approaches, and we're ensuring the circumstances of Hunter business are being considered.
Implementing a vaccination-to-participate system will be complex and it will have different implications for different sectors.
Vaccination conversations are going to be tough for some businesses to have with a small number of patrons. The pandemic has introduced countless changes and new temporary norms - all of which took some adjustment, patience and understanding by the community. It is up to the community to understand that businesses want to serve them, but businesses need to restore trade for the long term and avoid ongoing lockdowns that will come with high levels of community transmission or low vaccination in communities who are not medically exempt. These conversations are an important hurdle for businesses and community to go over to encourage vaccination and help with the roll-out of the roadmap because the alternative is not good. It's incumbent on all of us to make this work.
For now, businesses should be obliged only to focus on re-opening and introducing measures that support them to stabilise their operations and cash-flow while offering a safe and enjoyable service to their clients and patrons. The vaccination certificate check-in system looks to be one of those measures. The government's focus should remain on stabilising the health of the population, and the health of the economy through stimulating business because the alternative of remaining in lockdown won't be what anyone wants.
It is time to band together and make a small sacrifice for our communities. Repeating the long-term lockdown formulas of 2020-21 for a third year running equates to businesses closing for good, a distressed healthcare system, and an empty Treasury.
We don't have to look far to find examples like the UK, USA and Canada where less measured approaches have seen a reversion to case numbers blowing out and a clogging of the health systems.
Bob Hawes is the Business Hunter CEO
In COVID-19 news today
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NSW records 1542 COVID-19 cases, 9 deaths
- John Barilaro says Hunter won't escape COVID-19 lockdown until NSW hits 70% vaccination in mid-October
- Gladys Berejiklian reveals what living with COVID looks like
- Gladys Berejiklian releases 'road map' rules for vaccinated people after COVID lockdown
- Hunter workers now eligible for COVID-19 test and isolate payments
