Frontline industries are already required to keep their vaccination status up to date
As the winter season approaches, Dan Andrews, Premier of Victoria, is in discussions with peak industry groups to introduce mandated booster shots to protect against a surge in Covid infections over winter.
Many frontline industries are already required to keep their vaccination status up to date, but this could soon be extended to hospitality workers and other industries. The move has been labelled a desperate attempt to increase booster shot rates in the state where only 58.6% of eligible Victorians have received the third jab.
The state government has been seeking feedback from the Franchise Council of Victoria, the Australian Retailers Association, and Restaurant and Catering Australia and there has been mixed reaction to the discussions.
“Mandating third doses is like saying to a business that has won the lotto they need to give their money back,” said Wes Lambert from Restaurant & Catering Australia. ‘Businesses who have just begun to make money could go backwards again – the rug will be pulled from underneath their feet.”
Franchise Council of Victoria fears mandates could further impact hair & beauty operators but Australian Retailers Association chief executive, Paul Zahra said retailers will follow any health advice and requirements announced by the state government.
The move comes as the state government scraps the $450 payments to Victorians who miss work shifts while waiting for Covid test results. Andrews has previously hinted at proposed changes to overhaul the definition of ‘fully vaccinated from two doses to three but has since backtracked and admitted that the changes would be hard to enforce as international travellers can enter the country with two doses.
