Eased restrictions for vaccinated Sydney residents have sparked backlash from some mayors who have pointed out the inequality in NSW’s lockdown restrictions.
Residents living outside of an area of concern in Sydney can now attend a gathering of up to five people for outdoor recreation "so long as all those at the gathering aged 16 years or over are fully vaccinated".
For those living in one of the 12 LGAs of concern, you are allowed to leave home for two hours of recreation with your household so long as everyone over the age of 16 is fully vaccinated.
Canterbury-Bankstown mayor Khal Asfour said the disparity in rules across Sydney highlighted “just how ridiculous the health orders are”, as they vary from “street to street, or from one suburb to another”.
"[Authorities] keep blaming the health advice but show me the health advice which says that sitting in a park at a safe distance is spreading the virus," Cr Asfour told The Sydney Morning Herald.
He said his community is sick of the constant rule changes, accusing the government of letting residents down by being “hellbent on looking for scapegoats”.
Cumberland Council mayor Steve Christou said only allowing a minor easing of rules in the LGAs of concern was unfair, adding he was struggling to figure out why they were forced to live under “such harsh measures when another part of Sydney is not”.
On Monday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was too soon to start lifting restrictions in the LGAs of concern, claiming there were a “number of factors” that went into the health advice.
“There is some stabilisation in key local government areas which have been the – had the highest number of cases. We suspect and hope, fingers crossed, it’s because the vaccine rate is starting to kick in, but we can’t tell you,” she said.
"It’s too early. We need to at least get to the end of this week before we can make any of those conclusions."
