Victoria Covid: Trial of vaccine passports to begin in country towns

Regional Victoria will be the first to trial vaccine passports to reopen major events and gatherings as the government announces plans about how it could work.

Regional towns are vying to become guinea pigs in the state’s first trial of vaccine passports to reopen major events and gatherings.

Regional Development and Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas on Thursday confirmed a plan to introduce vaccination passports for large outdoor events in rural and regional Victoria.

Ms Thomas said it would focus on making the system accessible for event planners, with the technology likely using QR codes similar to the Covid check-in system.

The Macedon MP said the trial would shape Victoria’s future vaccine passport system and allow large indoor and outdoor events to return.

Ms Thomas said she met with regional council mayors, chief executive officers and business leaders on Thursday morning to discuss the program.

But she stopped short of confirming which regional towns were being considered.

As a Central Victorian MP, Ms Thomas said she would be putting her hand up for her community to be included.

It comes as almost 70 per cent of regional Victorians have received their first dose of the vaccine, while 43.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.

“We’re really in the race and we’re going for gold,” Ms Thomas said.

“We’re looking at innovative ways to get vaccines out as quickly as possible.

“(But) we can only work with the supply that we have.

“Get out there get the jab – that is our road map to greater freedoms.”

Ms Thomas said more details about the vaccine passport trial would be announced in the coming days.

She said while regional Victorians were celebrating the end of lockdown, she acknowledged the restrictions were difficult particularly for the hospitality industry and local sporting clubs.

Many regional pubs and restaurants have said they were unable to reopen as the 10-person indoor limit was financially unviable, while sporting competitions have been banned for the next three-weeks.

Regional Development and Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas today confirmed a plan to introduce vaccination passports for large outdoor events in rural and regional Victoria. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ms Thomas said the “careful, cautious easing” approach was critical to balancing the eased restrictions with the threat of a fresh Delta outbreak in the regions.

“Everyone wants life to return to normal,” she said.

“(But) Delta will take every opportunity it can get.”

Ms Thomas could not confirm the timeline for regional restrictions easing, saying the virus meant that plans had to remain “dynamic”.

Covid Response Division member Nicole Brady said restrictions around home visits were critical as residents were less likely to socially distance or wear their masks when visiting friends and family.

“At home you’re more inclined to drop your guard,” the Public Health Policy and Strategy deputy secretary said.
When pushed why sporting competitions were forced to wait to resume competition, Ms Brady said it all came down to the movement between communities.

Under the new restrictions only outdoor training is allowed forcing many competitions to abandon their finals series which had already been shortened.

"If you were just training, we know that is really excellent for mental health and community," Ms Brady said.

"But it is keeping the same people operating almost like in a bubble because it is the same (group) turning up for training however frequently it is that they train.”