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Tell us how Victoria’s vaccination rules affect your workplace
By Mathew Dunckley
New mandatory vaccination rules for authorised workers apply in Victoria from today.
The changes will cover more than 1 million Victorians and some industry groups have flagged there could be some difficult situations for them to manage.
The state government has said it will allow teachers to take leave until the end of the year if they are unvaccinated but, from next year, they will receive no salary if they still have not had a jab.
We’d like to hear from readers on how the policy is affecting their workplace.
NSW removes restrictions on ACT residents as Canberra exits lockdown
By Lucy Cormack and Daniella White
People may freely enter NSW from the ACT now that the territory’s lockdown is over.
NSW authorities say ACT residents are subject to the same rules as people in regional NSW and no longer need to complete a declaration form on arrival.
“People who live in regional LGAs can travel anywhere in regional NSW but cannot enter Greater Sydney without a reasonable excuse,” NSW Health said in a statement.
“People cannot leave Greater Sydney except with a reasonable excuse. Holidays and outdoor recreation are not reasonable excuses.”
The ACT only allows NSW residents from select postcodes near the border to freely enter the territory, and only for essential reasons.
NSW has also removed restrictions on Queensland residents who will no longer need to complete a declaration form upon entry into NSW.
The ACT’s lockdown ended at 11.59pm yesterday. Here’s a brief overview of what’s now allowed in the territory:
- Up to five people in the home;
- Twenty-five people outside for recreation or organised sport;
- Licensed venues can have up to 25 people inside (subject to a one person per four square metres rule);
- Up to fifty people can sit outside at a licensed venue (also subject to a four square metres rule);
- Aged care residents can have up to two fully vaccinated visitors per day;
- Hairdressers can have up to five clients at a time;
- Swimming pools can reopen with up to 25 people or two per lane; and
- Weddings can have up to 25 people and funerals 50.
Regional travel delayed in NSW until November
By Pallavi Singhal
Travel between Greater Sydney and regional NSW has been pushed back until November 1.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole announced the new date this morning.
Restrictions on movement within NSW were initially planned to be eased on the Monday after 80 per cent of the state was fully vaccinated.
However, that threshold will likely be reached earlier than was originally expected, with 77.77 per cent of people fully vaccinated as at the latest reporting period.
Mr Toole told 2GB’s Ben Fordham that “some of our [regional] communities actually want [the travel ban] to be longer”, with vaccination rates in some regional areas lagging behind the rest of the state.
As we reported earlier, the state government is concerned about lower vaccination rates in some regional and rural communities.
NSW is expected to hit its 80 per cent double-dose vaccination target (for people aged 16 and over) this weekend.
Victoria Police seeking public’s help to identify anti-lockdown protesters
By Cassandra Morgan
Victoria Police is seeking the public’s assistance to help identify a number of men as part of their investigations into assaults on officers and criminal damage during recent anti-lockdown protests.
Victoria Police said on Friday that its new taskforce wanted to speak to five men about demonstrations at the inner-city suburb of Richmond on September 18.
Victoria Police are looking to speak to several men in relation to anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne last month. Credit:Victoria Police
Ten police were injured, six were taken to hospital and 235 demonstrators were arrested during those protests.
Protesters hurled projectiles and abuse at authorities before surging through a police line, screaming and being soaked in capsicum spray as they went.
One female police officer was trampled in the chaos, with scuffles breaking out along the road.
On that day, travel in and out of Melbourne by public transport and car ground to a halt in an attempt to thwart the rally.
Police are also looking to speak to a sixth man in relation to an incident during anti-lockdown protests on Melbourne’s Westgate Bridge on September 21, when a man spat on a member of the public who was sitting in their own car.
They also want to speak to several other men about damage to police vehicles in the inner-city suburb of Carlton on September 21.
The images of all the men police are looking to speak to in relation to the protests can be found here.
NSW’s ban on regional travel to remain until at least October 25
By Lucy Cormack and Daniella White
Sydneysiders will not be able to travel to the regions until at least October 25, with the state government expected to announce it will hold back this freedom amid concerns about lower vaccination rates in some communities.
Travel to and from regional NSW was among the next raft of freedoms to be granted after the state hits its 80 per cent vaccination milestone, which is likely to occur this weekend.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet addressing the media on Thursday.Credit:Louise Kennerley
However, the freedom to travel is expected to be delayed for at least another week, following a meeting of the state’s COVID-19 and economic recovery committee on Thursday.
It would be the second time regional travel rights have been held back, having already been postponed from the 70 per cent reopening date.
Read the full story here.
No pay in 2022 for Victorian teachers who baulk at COVID vaccination
By Michael Fowler and Vanessa Di Natale
Victorian teachers who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccination can take leave until the end of this term but will not be paid in any form after the 2022 school year starts.
As the state prepares for the nation’s widest-reaching vaccine mandate to come into effect from Friday, school principals are also seeking clarification from the Andrews government on what to do if unvaccinated teachers attend campus despite the edict.
Primary school teacher Jasmine Geen is pleased all of her colleagues will be vaccinated.Credit:Eddie Jim
“It’s an incredibly challenging period and there is that bit of divisiveness across the entire community,” Victorian Principals Association president Andrew Dalgleish said.
About 1.25 million authorised workers in Victoria – essentially anyone who is unable to work solely from home – were given two weeks to get their first jab by today or have proof of a booking by October 22. Yesterday, Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed the mandate would be in place indefinitely.
Shift in border tone as Palaszczuk claims vindication on vaccines for kids
By Matt Dennien
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has claimed vindication over her “plan for the children” stance as her language over border restrictions appears to lighten.
The Premier sparked fury from some federal Coalition counterparts last month, as well the state opposition and people seeking clarity over when they may be able to return to the state, when she demanded research on the vulnerability of children to COVID-19 and suggested under-12s be included in domestic reopening considerations.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has told members of the community who have not yet had their first dose of a COVID vaccine that “we’ve done all we can to keep you safe”.Credit:Matt Dennien
Medical evidence suggests children are likely to suffer only mild illness from the Delta strain of COVID-19.
But after the Therapeutic Goods Administration announced it had opened the door to a fast-tracked approval process for Pfizer to apply to extend the use of its vaccine to children aged between five and 11, Ms Palaszczuk suggested she had been vindicated.
“The opposition said I was scaremongering,” she told State Parliament on Thursday. “Even [federal Health Minister] Greg Hunt now acknowledges that they need a plan for the children.”
Read the full story here.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
By Broede Carmody
Good morning and thanks for your company.
It’s Friday, October 15. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.
Here’s everything you need to know before we get started.
- NSW is bracing for more wild weather after yesterday’s damaging storms. Heavy rain, hail and flash flooding hit Sydney’s west Thursday afternoon and a tornado even touched down near Armidale. Meanwhile, Sydneysiders will not be able to travel to the regions until at least October 25 due to the state government having concerns about lower vaccination rates in some communities. NSW recorded 406 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday and six deaths. The state is set to hit its 80 per cent double-dose vaccination target (for people aged 16 and over) this weekend, which will trigger a further relaxation of coronavirus restrictions come Monday.
- Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has confirmed that coronavirus restrictions will ease in his state next week despite record high case numbers. Victoria recorded 2297 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 yesterday, a national record. There were also 11 deaths. From today, all essential workers in Victoria must have at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. The state is expected to hit its 70 per cent double-dose milestone for people aged 16 and over late next week. Once that target is hit, Melbourne’s 9pm curfew will be scrapped and hospitality venues can reopen with up to 50 patrons allowed to sit outdoors. Outdoor gatherings will also increase to 10 people.
- Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s border stance appears to have softened. It comes after Australia’s medicines regulator indicated it would fast-track approval for the Pfizer vaccine when it comes to children aged between five and 11. Ms Palaszczuk has cited the mantra of protecting Queenslanders, particularly children, amid the debate about state borders coming down in time for Christmas. But the Premier recently wrote on social media: “We’ve done all we can to keep you safe ... this next step is up to you.” The state recorded no new coronavirus cases yesterday.
- The first COVID-19 self-testing kits have been approved for use in Australia from November. While the three approved tests are not as effective as the gold standard PCR tests carried out at testing hubs across the country, the kits will be one line of defence against the spread of the virus when the country reopens.
- Residents of the ACT are waking up out of lockdown this morning. However, some restrictions – such as indoor mask-wearing – remain in place. The ACT recorded 46 new cases of COVID-19 in the community yesterday and one death.
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2021-10-14 21:00:22Z
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