Dominic Perrottet reveals his plan to get NSW out of Omicron outbreak
Premier Dominic Perrottet has revealed his plan to get NSW back on track and a government stockpile of rapid antigen tests is a major focus.
NSW
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Rapid antigen tests could be given out to parents at schools and people could be able to pay for a certain number of tests with a Dine & Discover-style voucher under plans being considered by the state government.
Speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph, Premier Dominic Perrottet declared that NSW will emerge “stronger” out of the current outbreak despite “challenges” along the way.
It can be revealed that the Premier is looking at an economic support package to cushion the blow of the Omicron outbreak that has sent hundreds of thousands of people into quarantine and seen activity plummet.
Speaking after a meeting with chief health officer Kerry Chant and NSW Health deputy secretary Susan Pearce, Mr Perrottet told The Telegraph there was “no alternative” to pushing through the current wave, with the peak projected to occur at the end of this month.
“We are in a transition period and that creates inconveniences, challenges, and requires patience and an effort once again,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Every single time with every single outbreak, NSW, through the efforts of our people, has managed it and come out of it stronger.”
Mr Perrottet believed confidence would return when the state was through the worst of the current outbreak, as it did at the end of the Delta lockdown last year.
Presenting a positive message about “living alongside” Covid, Mr Perrottet said responses to the virus would continue to change in coming years.
“As we move to a more endemic phase when we get through Omicron then, naturally, I think that we will have a change in settings that suit the circumstances,” he said.
The Premier also revealed that one of his government’s more contentious policy changes – removing QR codes from most venues on December 15 – was actually done at the request of NSW Health.
RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS
A state government stockpile of 100 million tests will primarily be used to keep critical services operating safely, but early plans are being worked on to offer residents tests for free.
One option being worked through is giving NSW residents a Dine & Discover-style voucher to access free RATs at pharmacies. However, these plans are still in their early stages.
Parents may also be able to access RATs through their children’s schools.
The state government stockpile will be used in healthcare, education, vulnerable communities, and social housing. Authorities have already started distributing RATs to remote communities.
“2022 looks like families having rapid antigen tests sitting in the cupboard,” Mr Perrottet said.
SCHOOLS
As parents prepare to send children back to school for 2022, the Premier declared he was planning to ensure kids went back safely on day one — and stayed there.
“We will bring schools back (on) day one, term one, in a way that is safe for teachers and students,” he said.
The final back-to-school plan is yet to be finalised, but it may involve some changes to pre-Covid operations.
Rapid antigen tests are expected to play a role in getting kids back to school safely.
National cabinet is set to consider return-to-school plans on Thursday.
Despite Queensland already moving to delay the start of the school year, Mr Perrottet hoped leaders would agree to “nationally consistent” principles.
Pointedly describing the Australian Medical Association as a “doctors’ union”, Mr Perrottet said he disagreed with their approach to school.
“I disagree with the doctors’ union in relation to schools,” he said. “I agree with the World Health Organisation that schools should be the last close and the first to open.”
ECONOMY
Senior ministers are already looking at an economic support package to ease the burden of the Omicron outbreak.
Despite acute staff shortages and a major decline in activity, Mr Perrottet insisted that going into a full lockdown would cripple livelihoods.
“We know many businesses right now are closed, but if we took the other approach, every business would be closed,” he said.
“If you’ve had as much of society (as possible) functioning in the dark times, the light times come a lot faster.”
RESTRICTIONS
Mr Perrottet rejected criticism that he let Covid cases run rampant after easing restrictions in line with a decision announced when Gladys Berejiklian was still premier.
“The position that we’ve taken in NSW is entirely consistent with the approach that the Labor states in Victoria and Queensland have taken,” he said.
After facing a backlash for winding back QR codes, Mr Perrottet said the change was done on the advice of NSW Health. He said it advised that QR codes should be wound back to only high-risk venues in line with a winding down of contact-tracing operations.
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