- New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has floated the idea of venue and service bans for Australians who decline to take the COVID-19 vaccine
- The premier said she’d like there to be an incentive program in place for people to take the vaccine, which could include limiting what kind of venues people can enter without a vaccine
- These comments come after New South Wales recorded zero locally-acquired COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours
- Meanwhile, mask rules in Victoria have relaxed after the state recorded its 12th day in a row of zero local coronavirus transmissions
- At the same time, Melbourne workers returned to city offices today for the first time in over eight months
- Face masks are still required in Victoria when on public transport, in shopping centres, in hospitals, and in large stores and indoor markets
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has floated the idea of venue and service bans for Australians who decline to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
The comments come ahead of the roll-out of coronavirus vaccines across Australia, which is currently slated for the beginning of March.
While no concrete laws have been outlined, the NSW premier told Nine Radio this morning she thinks there should be strong incentives in place to encourage people to get vaccinated.
“We’d like there to be an incentive system where people are encouraged to have it because it means they can do all these things which they may otherwise not have been able to do,” she said of the vaccine.
“The opportunity to enter certain workplaces or venues might be enhanced if you have the vaccine,” she said.
“Some of those decisions could be inspired by the government; some of those decisions might be inspired by the organisation themselves.”
The Premier’s comments come as New South Wales records zero locally-acquired cases over the past 24 hours.
Genome sequencing suggests that the seven cases reported over the weekend are all linked to the previously-identified Berala cluster.
Victorian mask rules ease
Meanwhile, mask mandates in Victoria relaxed as of this morning as Melbourne workers return to city offices for the first time in over eight months.
While offices can only operate to 50 per cent capacity in terms of staff numbers, employees will no longer need to wear masks at all times indoors as the state records its 12th day in a row of zero local coronavirus cases.
Office managers will also need to keep the contact details of everyone who stays in the office for more than 15 minutes.
Nevertheless, though rules have somewhat relaxed, there are still some places in the state in which Victorians will be required to wear a mask at all times.
This includes public transport or rideshare and taxi services, inside shopping centres and large stores, at supermarkets, in hospitals, and at airports.
People who do not wear a face mask when required without a valid legal reason could cop a $200 fine.