No jab, no freedom: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian gets tough

Gladys Berejiklian has strongly signalled that people who remain unvaccinated could be left out of NSW society once higher levels of coverage are achieved.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in Sydney on Monday. Picture: Getty Images

Gladys Berejiklian has strongly signalled that people who remain unvaccinated could be left out of NSW society once higher levels of coverage are achieved, prompting industry calls for greater certainty over how to manage this group as the state prepares to reopen its economy.

Just hours after Deputy Premier John Barilaro said non-vaccinated people would have their freedoms restored at levels of 80 per cent vaccination, the Premier scotched the suggestions and cautioned they were unlikely to receive the same freedoms.

While it is not the first time the leaders have disagreed, the matter will pose a test for the Berejiklian government as it tries to encourage further vaccine uptake without creating a two-tiered society.

During a press briefing on Monday, Ms Berejiklian warned that people who remained unvaccinated could face reduced participation in society even once higher levels of immunity were achieved. “If you’re not vaccinated, you will not have the freedom or the freedoms that vaccinated people have even when we get to 80 per cent double-dose,” she said.

“And it won’t only be a government decision. A private business might choose only to welcome patrons who are vaccinated; an airline might say you can only fly with us if you’re vaccinated. They will be decisions for government based on the health advice, but some of those things will be decisions of private business.”

Mr Barilaro appeared on radio hours earlier where he spoke ­optimistically about plans to ease restrictions for unvaccinated ­people within weeks of the state reaching a 70 per cent vaccination benchmark, expected about mid-October.

Mr Barilaro was the architect of the state government’s road map for reopening the economy, which will take effect within days of 70 per cent targets being met. As of Sunday, 46.5 per cent of adults over 16 had received both vaccine doses in NSW, with 78.8 per cent having received one dose.

“There will be businesses that don’t like the idea (of mandatory vaccines), but the 70 per cent road map gives us an opportunity to open up the economy and lift ­restrictions,” he said.

“If they (individuals) don’t want to do it that’s fine, you might have to wait another three to four weeks after that when we get to 80 per cent and above. This is about giving the ones that have gone and got vaccinated the opportunity to have a level of freedom … we’ve got to reboot the economy and this is the safest way. I apologise for that but it will only be three to four weeks of short inconvenience.”

Mr Barilaro’s remarks blindsided industry representatives who have been engaging state and federal governments for weeks over how to manage unvaccinated people in retail settings, restaurants, and other venues.

Some of these representatives are calling for federal legislation to settle the matter and remove the burden being placed on individual businesses; others believe state-based public health orders will be enough to clarify these rules.

The issue has already resulted in a backlash against some venues that have acted as flag-bearers for vaccine uptake. Sydney’s ARIA restaurant, which indicated on its social media platforms that it would accept bookings from only vaccinated customers, has been criticised by prospective patrons over this position.

Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive Wes Lambert said his industry needed far more certainty from the NSW government in place of “confusing and mixed messaging” on the issue of how to deal with unvaccinated people in the future.

“We must, as an industry, know when the public health order dictating 70 and 80 per cent freedoms and reopenings will be released, so that businesses can plan and make critical decisions as we enter the spring and summer season,” he said.

The Australian reported at the weekend that the state government expected to reach its 80 per cent vaccination target between mid-November and December due to a drop in vaccination rates, caused in part by hesitancy among the 16-39 age group.

John Whelan, chief executive of the Australian Hotels Association NSW branch, said public health orders would be one answer to providing clarity and certainty.

“We are working on reopening at 70 per cent – which is projected to be in the middle of October – with fully vaccinated staff and patrons, most probably mandated via a public health order,” Mr Whelan said.