Covid NSW: 64 per cent of hospitality staff say vaccination must be mandatory

An AHA NSW survey of hospitality workers has revealed 64 per cent of employees think they should have to be vaccinated, while the message for pub-goers and club patrons is to get vaxxed.

A majority of the state’s hospitality workforce is getting vaccinated in preparation for the long-awaited reopening of the state’s 1800 licensed venues – whether they like it or not.

In a positive sign we may be able to enjoy a beer at the pub soon, more than 80 per cent of hospitality workers will either be fully vaccinated by October or are intending to get the jab.

But an Australian Hotels Association NSW survey of more than 6500 hospitality workers has also revealed 36 per cent of employees still don’t think it should be a requirement for all hotel employees to be vaccinated.

Resistance to mandatory vaccination for employees is about 10 per cent higher than Qantas’ survey of their workforce, which found about 25 per cent didn’t think there should be a vaccine requirement as part of the job.

“The Premier has now set the 70 per cent benchmark, and on current vaccination rates we’ll hopefully reach that in the next six weeks,” AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said.

“It’s really encouraging to see such a large percentage of our staff are already fully or partly vaccinated.

“It shows how keen staff are to return to work, throw open the doors to your local and do what they do best, serve patrons in a safe, friendly environment.

“It’s also obvious a clear majority of hotel staff want to work in a vaccinated environment.”

Charlie Laundy, 23, and his sister Analise, 19, who work at the Woolwich Pier Hotel, are looking forward to returning to work. Picture: Toby Zerna

A total of 56 per cent of workers will be fully vaccinated by the end of October, while a further 28 per cent intend to be vaccinated.

Ten per cent remain undecided, while six per cent do not intend to be vaccinated.

“If you want to get down to the pub when we re-open, get vaccinated now,” Mr Whelan said.

“You’ll need two jabs and you don’t want to be left out when things finally open up.”

Craig Laundy, whose family business owns 30 pubs, including the Woolwich Pier Hotel and recently opened Marsden Brewhouse in Marsden Park, believes pubs will start to open mid-October with significant restrictions.

He believes there will be a vaccine passport that will allow licensed venues to block unvaccinated patrons, single entry points and seated drinking only.

He also said there would likely be health orders requiring that both staff and patrons be vaccinated.

“Because we have had lockdown for so long this will be a further incentive to drive more vaccinations,” the former Liberal MP said.

CLUBS: IT’S SAFE FOR US TO OPEN NOW

Meanwhile, NSW clubs are also making preparations to open their doors to vaccinated patrons from mid-October as they await the green light from the state government.

The industry recently submitted a reopening plan which Clubs NSW chief executive ­officer Josh Landis said had been accepted by NSW Health, although agreement on timing was still to come.

As for Christmas, Mr Landis said he was confident it would be back to business as usual.

Clubs NSW CEO Josh Landis.

“We are preparing to open both indoors and outdoors to fully vaccinated patrons when we hit 70 per cent vaccination early to mid-October,” he said.

“Then we expect to open to everyone else when we hit 80 per cent.

“We understand that in the next couple of months there will be more than enough vaccines for anyone that wants to get vaccinated to get vaccinated so by Christmas, there should be no excuse for further restrictions to apply because everyone will have limited their risk – unless they have chosen to be unvaccina­ted, in which case that’s their decision and they will bear the possible consequences.”

As part of the first phase of reopening, patrons would be required to show their vaccination status to a door person, Mr Landis said.

He said the reopening plan, which has been with the government for several weeks, had been reviewed by a professor of epidemiology enlisted by Clubs NSW who was an expert in infectious diseases, and was well-known and ­respected by NSW Health.

Mr Landis said the epidemiologist had said it was already safe to open outdoor areas.

“They have reviewed and approved our reopening plan,” he said.

“They have said it is safe to open outdoor areas immediately. As of last month, we could have done it.

“Our plan has been with the government for a couple of weeks. Health NSW have no problem with it, other than ­timing.”

Mr Landis said there were 43,000 clubs workers who were keen to “get off government welfare” and return to work.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]