Businesses fined thousands, shut down over jab mandate

A group of anti-vax protesters, led by a former Neighbours star, have filmed themselves screaming at staff at a Melbourne Salvos store.

Chaos has broken out outside a Melbourne op shop after a group of anti-vaccination protesters, with a former Neighbours star at the helm, descended on the store.

The group of protesters, led by Damien Richardson, who played Gary Canning on Neighbours, filmed themselves confronting Salvation Army staff outside a shop on Bourke St on Wednesday morning.

The group were protesting against unvaccinated residents being prohibited from the premises, with protesters sticking signs on the front of the shop reading “God does not discriminate” and “Op shops are essential services”.

Other signs read: “If you are worried you would have complied in 1930s Germany, now you know” and “You’re meant to stand for ‘salvation of the people’. Segregation does not save”.

Under Victoria’s Covid restrictions, patrons aged 12 years and two months or older are required to show proof of vaccination to enter a variety of businesses across the state.

Anti-vax protesters confront staff at the Bourke St store. Picture: @SOS149/Twitter

Signs plastered across the store's windows. Picture: @SOS149/Twitter

It is up to these businesses to ensure customers have checked in correctly and to verify their vaccination status. Not doing this puts businesses at risk of major penalties.

In footage posted to the Twitter page @SOS149, a Salvation Army worker can be seen telling Mr Richardson that toys from the shop were being offered to all customers, regardless of their vaccination status.

They also said that anyone who came to the store needing food didn’t have to be vaccinated to receive help.

At one point a woman, who revealed she had been living on the streets since she was a girl, defended the workers against the protesters.

“They offer it. Come have dinner with us, sleep with us out on the street, start learning about it,” she told the protesters.

One of the protesters then told her they had been doing that for “six weeks”, prompting the woman to say that wasn’t enough time to truly understand their struggles.

“I have been on and off these streets since I was 13 years old. And I will stick up for these guys as much as they’re a---holes, and I’m an a---hole to them some days. That is our family,” she said.

BUSINESSES FINED OVER JAB MANDATE

It comes as authorities have fined businesses thousands of dollars for flouting Covid restrictions as anti-vaxxers encourage organisations to join an underground economy of companies ignoring the jab mandate.

The Herald Sun can reveal one business was slammed with more than $20,000 worth of fines.

Supporters have shared websites — which we have chosen not to name — that act as a type of directory for businesses who say they won’t check vaccine certificates or police mask wearing or QR code check-ins.

Some of the directories, in trying to avoid explicitly stating they are not following restrictions, do not say outright that customers don’t need to wear a mask.

But the sites — set up when Victoria’s mask rules were much stricter — state they will trust that those who don’t wear one have a valid medical reason, which they won’t be questioned about.

Not all of the businesses listed appear to be in industries with a jab mandate, with some signing up to instead express their support for the cause against such rules.

Businesses must comply with QR code check-in rules. Picture: Getty Images

Some of the websites are free for businesses to use, while at least one anti-vaccination group charges companies to advertise on their site.

The Herald Sun has seen listings on these directories, including a kindergarten, chiropractor clinic and an individual disability support worker, looking for clients.

The post for the disability worker claimed they had worked in the industry but lost their job due to the vaccine mandate.

The publicly accessible websites are now being investigated by the authorities, with several organisations already fined.

A government spokeswoman said “the government’s Industry Engagement and Enforcement Operation is aware of these directories”.

“Investigations are under way, with enforcement action already taken on a number of businesses involved”.

“Victorians expect all businesses to do the right thing when it comes to keeping their workers, customers and the wider community safe.

“Businesses caught flouting the rules should expect a visit at any time from our authorised officers, who will issue infringement, prohibition or improvement notices to businesses doing the wrong thing.”

A restaurant is among the businesses fined for flouting Covid restrictions.

The Herald Sun understands several businesses have already been fined, including a Knoxfield restaurant where unvaccinated staff had continued to work on-site.

The hospitality venue was issued with a prohibition notice to close them down and hit was a $5452 fine.

One of the largest penalties was for a Maribyrnong health and wellness shop, where officers found unvaccinated staff on site and no record keeping of employees’ vaccination status.

It cost them a $27,261 fine and they were also hit with a prohibition notice.

Operators in regional Victoria were also caught out, with a cafe in the Ballarat LGA fined more than $10,000 and issued a prohibition notice.

They were penalised for having no face masks, no QR code system in place and no COVIDSafe Plan.

Businesses can be caught out by authorised officers conducting checks — there are up to 200 on the ground at any time — or dobbed in by members of the public.

A dedicated Covid breaches section is available on the Police Assistance Line website, allowing people to make anonymous complaints.

Businesses referred to the Police Assistance Line have been warned to expect a visit from authorised officers.

The vaccine mandate has been one of the key issues among protesters. Picture: Ian Currie

A man — whom the Herald Sun has chosen not to name — said he didn’t want to get fined but decided to list his personal training business.

“I think that a large amount of the population … still support more relaxed conditions,” he said.

“Obviously (they support) taking this pandemic seriously, but also at the same time government overreach with some of the powers, some of the things that they’ve done …

“A lot of people don’t agree with maybe 20 per cent of the things that the government is doing.

“I signed up to the directory because … it’s a good business opportunity for me.”

He didn’t want to disclose whether or not he was vaccinated, but said there was confusion in his industry over whether or not he was required to have had his shot to train NDIS clients.

“It’s not clear whatsoever,” he said.

“I actually went to my doctor and asked for her advice.

“At the end of the day I’m here to follow the rules whether I agree with them or not.

“I’m not here to risk a fine when I shouldn’t.

“For me it’s been really hard, because it’s not a black and white issue.”

A personal trainer decided to list his business on the register. Picture: iStock

Matt Nurse, a former government communications director who is now completing his PhD on Covid-19 misinformation, said it was a risk to visit organisations on the register.

“Visiting businesses that fail to follow the rules is risky because you and those you care about will have a higher chance of getting Covid-19,” he said.

“Most Australians have been smart enough to ignore misinformation about Covid-19 that is spread to make money or for political reasons.

“The evidence shows that vaccines are a safe and effective way of reducing your risk and ending this pandemic.

“People who are hesitant about vaccines should talk with someone who is fully informed and can provide individually-tailored advice like their doctor.”

Individuals who provide “false or misleading” information about their vaccination status risk a fine of up to $10,904.

Businesses who break Covid restrictions risks fines between $1090 — for low level offences such as not having the correct signs displayed — and $27,261 for not following vaccination requirements.

But serious or blatant noncompliance can result in court action and fines of up to $109,044 for bodies corporate.

Daniel Andrews had previously indicated the vaccinated economy would remain well into 2022, but that is no longer thought to be the case.

While it is still unclear exactly how long the jab mandates for everyday activities such as shopping and visiting a restaurant will remain, the Herald Sun has recently reported the Premier was considering bringing the end date forward.

However, the rules are expected to still remain in place for high-risk industries, such as in healthcare.