NSW businesses declare they will welcome unvaccinated customers
Owners of restaurants, cafes and beauty salons have been declaring on social media they won’t discriminate against the unvaccinated.
Companies
Don't miss out on the headlines from Companies. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Aussie business owners are declaring they would welcome people to their restaurants, salons and pubs even if they aren’t vaccinated against Covid-19.
Gabriele Moretti, who owns a pizza restaurant called Amoretti’s located in Abbotsbury in Sydney’s south west, posted on Facebook that the place was “open to all”.
“We don’t discriminate. Only if you ask for pineapple on pizza! ONLY JOKING your pizza your choice. Your body, your choice,” he wrote.
That’s despite New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian declaring life for unvaccinated people in the state will be more restrictive than those double jabbed when lockdown rules are lessened.
Ms Moretti’s post no longer appears online, but people were still debating the issue on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
“Our family would like to thank you for your decision to serve everyone vaccinated or not. People should not be discriminated for their vaccination choices and it is disgusting that government is encouraging such discriminative behaviour and trying to divide people. And the vaccinated should feel safe anyway as the whole purpose of getting a vaccine is to be protected from catching the virus,” wrote one woman.
“Look forward to being able to come and try out your restaurant – promise no request for pineapple on my pizza (though I can’t speak for my Mum!),” joked another.
But other people questioned the restaurant’s decision.
“Vaccinated people will not want to dine near unvaccinated people. There will be a lot more vaccinated customers than not,” one woman said.
“Any business who caters to the 15 per cent of anti-vaxxers will miss out on the other 85 per cent possibly not wanting to support them. Just crazy thinking really,” another man added.
Maria’s Beauty Bar in Sydney’s south in Kogarah Bay also highlighted they are a “pro choice salon” in a post on Instagram, which attracted 670 likes.
“We are a PRO freedom of choice business, and in no way shape or form support discrimination not against our team, clients or fellow industry,” they shared on social media.
“We will as per usual servicing ALL our clients & brides. ALL are welcome.”
The NSW government has outlined that its road map to freedom will only allow fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions access to businesses including pubs, restaurants and cafes, as well as retail settings, entertainment venues and health and beauty services, after the state hits the 70 per cent double-dose target.
However, the government said it was too early to provide specific details on the legal requirements, although it previously indicated it will incorporate vaccination proof into the Service NSW smartphone application.
Restrictions could remain for unvaccinated
Other restaurants have also declared they would welcome the unvaccinated but the social media posts have since disappeared.
This includes Chef’s Secrets in Berowra Waters in northern Sydney, which posted on social media that it “welcomes everyone, jab or unjabbed” and The Brighton Le Sands Ice Creamery which said it welcomes all customers “vaccinated or not” to the family-run business
But in a fiery press conference on Monday, Premier Berejiklian warned those who haven’t received the jab may not enjoy extra freedoms even when the state hits 80 per cent double vaccination.
Ms Berejiklian said those who choose not to get the jab “not to expect to do everything that vaccinated people do even when we hit 80 per cent”.
Australian Retailers Association (ARA) CEO Paul Zahra strongly welcomed the NSW Government’s reopening road map, but said there’s still some details to be ironed, including how proof of vaccination will work and be enforced under the existing QR code check-in system.
“We are concerned about potential instances of customer aggression – it’s something that frontline retail workers have been managing throughout the pandemic over QR codes and mask mandates, with a small percentage of people refusing to do the right thing,” he told news.com.au.
“We’re continuing discussions with the NSW Government on the best way to manage this so we can enable a safe reopening of businesses.”
One of Sydney’s most popular harbour restaurants has already faced heated backlash following its announcement that only fully vaccinated customers will be allowed to dine there once the state reaches its vaccination target.
Famous restaurants only want fully jabbed customers
Aria restaurant, owned by TV chef Matt Moran and Bruce Solomon, founder of hospitality group Solotel, announced last week its plan for when restaurants were allowed to re-open.
The restaurant said in a post to Instagram it would be taking bookings onwards from October 18, but only from people who were fully vaccinated.
Many of the comments attacked the post, accusing the business of unfairly leaving out a big chunk of its clientele.
Mr Moran told The Daily Telegraph he was left traumatised after anti-vaxxers unleashed their fury at him on the social media post.
ARA chief Mr Zahra also backed businesses following NSW protocols for a safe and staged reopening, adding that vaccinations are a safety measure for the protection of customers and staff.
“When businesses in locked down parts of the country get the green light to reopen, it’s important they follow the health advice and Covid-safe protocols to ensure the safety of their staff and customers,” he said.
Michael Tooma, managing partner of law firm Clyde & Co, said there are only certain areas that cover discrimination such as someone having a medical reason for not being vaccinated and religious grounds.
“If there is a legitimate reason why someone is not vaccinated and the business has provided an accommodation for that through rapid antigen testing you have complied with requirements, but the general approach of saying that people don’t want to discriminate against people because of their desire not be vaccinated is not something that is protected in the law," he told news.com.au.
He added that if the NSW government introduces a public health order that requires businesses to only allow fully vaccinated people in then they risk running a “gauntlet of significant fines and penalties” if they breach it.
Even if the government doesn’t choose that path, Mr Tooma said businesses still have a duty of care under health and safety legislation both to workers and the general public, which could include checking vaccination status and offering rapid antigen testing.
“So the legal position is that businesses face potentially regulatory investigations and prosecutions if they don’t put such systems in place but then there is also claims by people who get Covid down the track as a result of an outbreak that starts at their business,” he said.
“We have already seen in Victoria last year class actions brought in relation to Covid outbreaks and I expect that trend in terms of claims being made to continue in terms of outbreaks.
“One of the points of distinction with these outbreaks and what is different from other types of claims that might be bought is with contract tracing and genomic testing we have a great deal of clarity as to where outbreak originates from. So if you’re running a business and an outbreak originated from your business there will be evidence and so the risk is greater than for example what might be the case in relation to other types of viruses.”
It’s not just NSW where the ‘discrimination’ debate is playing out either, with other businesses around Australia declaring they will let in unvaccinated patrons.
Premier Daniel Andrews promised Victorians that a modest easing of lockdown restrictions will kick in when the state reaches its 70 per cent first dose vaccination target.
Owners of a well-known regional Victoria pub said they are not “anti-vax” for deciding to let in unvaccinated patrons once restrictions ease.
However, the Grand Hotel Healesville said if it becomes mandatory to enter a business with a passport, it will have no choice but to follow the law.
A post from the pub went viral last week when the owners explained that would allow all people, regardless of their Covid vaccine status, into the pub.
“Jab or no jab, everyone is welcome at the Grand Hotel Healesville,” the update read.
The post received thousands of likes and comments, with some congratulating the pub for “being on the right side of history”.
Originally published as NSW businesses declare they will welcome unvaccinated customers
Why bank may have to pay you hundreds
Nearly two million Aussies could soon receive hundreds of dollars after multiple major banks were ordered to issue more than $28m in refunds.
Alliance bucks trend with record year and ‘better to come’
Just like Rex, Alliance Aviation saw the opportunity to expand its fleet during the Covid pandemic but while one airline failed spectacularly, the other soared to new heights.