Melbourne’s hospitality workers have less than two days to become fully vaccinated if they want to work when the city’s pubs, cafes and restaurants reopen, despite fury from the hospitality sector.
The state will hit 90 per cent first dose vaccine coverage in those aged over 16 on Wednesday, after recording 1841 local COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths.
Premier Daniel Andrews revealed on Tuesday that hospitality staff must be fully vaccinated in order to work when Melbourne’s lockdown lifts on Friday.
This is despite online health directions stating authorised workers, including hospitality, must have had one vaccine dose by October 22 and a second dose by November 26.
Australian Hotels Association Victoria chief executive Paddy O’Sullivan said the government had “moved the goalposts” on the sector.
“Members who were ordering stock, rostering staff on the previous timing schedule for vaccination, only to then be told yesterday that is in jeopardy – they are furious,” he told AAP.
“Staff are distraught, having been basically on and off at their workplace for the last 18 months or more. It is very, very upsetting.”
The AHA has asked the state government for a grace period to allow staff time to get vaccinated, similar to that given to the construction industry.
Otherwise, Mr O’Sullivan says “a very large number” of Melbourne pubs will not be able to open on Friday.
But Victoria’s COVID Commander Jeroen Weimar said “there is no wriggle room” on the mandate.
“It would be bizarre to be in a world where we have said, ‘you can only be a customer in these places if you are fully vaccinated’ but the staff do not need to be fully vaccinated. That doesn’t really stack up,” he told reporters in Melbourne.
“We would expect the people that are now being asked to please come back into work are the first ones to have got themselves organised to get themselves fully vaccinated, so that they can serve their customers.”
The state opposition noted the change implies staff will be allowed to work in a hospital with one dose, but not in a cafe, bar or restaurant.
“Many hospitality businesses already face difficulties to attract trained staff after such long lockdowns and this new requirement will make it difficult for many to open,” opposition gaming and liquor regulation spokeswoman Steph Ryan said.
The hospitality sector confusion comes at the same time as the entertainment industry’s hopes of reopening indoors were dashed by a “typo” in COVID-19 directions.
Documents released on Sunday suggested they could open to 20 patrons, but on Tuesday Mr Andrews said their inclusion was an error and they could not reopen until 80 per cent double vaccination coverage.
Melbourne is set to be freed from its sixth lockdown at 11.59pm on Thursday, with some pubs in the city to reopen at midnight.
Mr Weimar said all Victorians, including hospitality workers, will not be allowed to leave their homes until midnight on Thursday, as the city’s 9pm curfew will apply until then.
However, the state government again clarified this following the press conference, saying hospitality staff can go into work after 9pm to get ready for service at midnight.
The curfew will still apply to patrons until midnight.
All Victorians visiting venues and businesses on Friday must be fully vaccinated, except children aged 12 to 15 who only recently became eligible.
As of Tuesday, 89.2 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 69.3 per cent are fully vaccinated.
AAP
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