Hungry Jack’s billionaire Jack Cowin warns anti-vaxxers to get jabbed ahead of Freedom Day

Hungry Jack’s billionaire Jack Cowin has a stern message for Australia’s anti-vaxxers, as well as rogue states playing to their own rules.

Hungry Jack’s billionaire Jack Cowin has a stern message for Australia’s anti-vaxxers, as well as rogue states playing to their own rules.

Mr Cowin, who is doubled jabbed, said every Australian state and territory will have to play by the same rules for the country to open up and the vaccine is the only way to “get ourselves out of jail”.

While Queensland and Western Australia have had strong political wins from keeping their borders closed to other states, the rich-lister said they will have to eventually open up.

“I think the reality is that once we get to a stage where we have a high percentage of vaccinated people, that they will have to come under the same ruling,” Mr Cowin said.

“This may take a while for them politically to adjust to this, but eventually everyone will play by the same rules.”

The nation’s fast food king said he knows a number of unvaccinated people and tells them: “How are you going to get on a plane and go overseas or go to a restaurant or pub, how do you feel about that and how strong is your conviction?

“And the general answer is they will probably cave in, which will be the case once restrictions ease.”

To encourage his own staff and their close contacts to get vaccinated, the Hungry Jack’s founder has launched a national incentive scheme which includes a fortnightly prize draw of gift cards and a major cash prize.

“It hasn't been easy running a business in which dining rooms are closed and all the rest but we have been fortunate that staff have been compliant,” Mr Cowin said.

“Unless there is a medical or logical reason, we are trying to encourage anyone that we have contact with or that we employ to get vaccinated because that is our defence against how we get this behind us.”

Jack Cowin is supporting vaccination with an incentive program for his staff at his Hungry Jack’s stores.

It comes after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian released the state’s road map for once the state reaches 80 per cent vaccination.

At 70 per cent, predicted to be October 11, pubs, retail stores and gyms are set to open again, but only for the fully vaccinated.

At 80 per cent, which could be October 18, the new activities allowed for those who have had two coronavirus jabs will include having 10 visitors at home, playing community sports, and drinking while standing at pubs.

“This (pandemic) has been a disruptive thing for over the past 20 months and hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Mr Cowin said.

“From a personal point of view, it’s now about how we get this society to get the vaccine so we are able to get ourselves out of jail.”

Mr Cowin made the comments after his fast food chain launched its Jack’s Fried Chicken Burger range nationwide.

Meanwhile, NSW is set to become the first state or territory to begin a new era in which the fully vaccinated are able to go to pubs, cafes and other venues, while the unvaccinated will be stopped at the door.

To access these greater freedoms, members of the public will use digital or paper certificates to show a venue they have had both jabs.

However, Mr Cowin said many of his employees are likely to be on the frontline of any public hostility to the system, which he has already seen in one of his Lone Star Canadian restaurants.

“(Vaccines) are obviously a point of tension that will exist until we get through this. But I think the passports are a logical next step to where we have to go next,” he said.

“As a company we have to endeavour to manage this, but I don‘t think it will be the end game.

“This has been a disruptive thing for over the past 20 months and hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel ….it’s now about how we get this society to get the vaccine so we are able to get ourselves out of jail.”