NSW new vaccine passport system is good news but may cause concern for retailers

This month, New South Wales will likely see the easing of lockdown restrictions. While the opening up will come as a relief to many, especially those in the hospitality sector, there are also concerns about the accompanying vaccine passports. How will they work? And more importantly, who has to enforce the rules?

As Sydney and parts of NSW anticipate freedom from lockdown, the government has provided some details on the new vaccine passports. Once the state has reached its 70% target of vaccination, hospitality and retail businesses – including restaurants, pubs, and food businesses – can open to fully vaccinated customers. But users will have to prove their vaccination status before entering a premises, which may prove problematic. 

Residents can currently access their proof of vaccinations through their Medicare online accounts (or the app) or via myGov. Paper copies can also be received by post.

In NSW, the government has released the Service NSW App. Scanning a QR code with the app to enter workplaces or retail businesses has been mandatory since July, but updates are coming that will include vaccination status. It will also alert users potentially exposed to COVID-19 and advise on what to do next. The idea behind the Service NSW is to have everything in one place, including the ‘vaccine passport’ all in the same app. 

This is excellent news for those in food businesses. However, the compulsory nature of the vaccine passport to gain entry has raised concerns among many in the retail and hospitality business. After all, staff are going to have to enforce the rules. Given that some people have turned aggressive when forced to show status or been denied entrance, food employees may be at the front line of abuse simply for following the regulations. What happens if a business fails to check customers?

New data from National Retail Association (NRA) reveals an increase in violence toward staff in Victoria and New South Wales. The NRA, which represents over 24,000 retail and food outlets and over a million staff, says the increase is partly due to employees enforcing pandemic procedures. Consequently, hostility will likely continue with the implementation of compulsory vaccine passports.

Time will tell. As vaccine rates increase and more of the country opens up, the restrictions should ease further. Ministers have said that compulsory passports are just a temporary measure, so hopefully, this will mitigate or lessen any potential abuse. Despite lingering concerns, most food businesses are likely to be positive as things gradually return to normal. 

 Article by: Food Safety Select