NSW business reopening day’s coming, Covid-19 vaccine apps ready or not

The NSW government has begun briefing industry groups that Oct­ober 11 will mark the official reopening of the state’s businesses.

NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello show his Covid-19 vaccination certificate on Wednesday. Picture: Damian Shaw

The NSW government has begun briefing industry groups that Oct­ober 11 will mark the official reopening of the state’s businesses, with the community expected to achieve 70 per cent vaccination coverage two weeks earlier than originally anticipated.

Officials have conceded its vaccine validation technology is unlikely to be operational in time for the revised reopening date, raising concerns among some industry representatives of confrontations with patrons and extra costs associated with front-of-house duties.

NSW is due to exit lockdown from the first Monday after the community attains 70 per cent double-vaccination coverage.

This was initially forecast to occur on Monday, October 25, but the rapid pace of vaccinations has seen that date revised to October 18 and now October 11.

Officials believe the state will reach its vaccination benchmark about October 7.

As of Tuesday, some 55.5 per cent of the NSW population had received two vaccine doses.

The NSW government has been trying to integrate federally held vaccination certificates into the ServicesNSW app, but Digital Minister Victor Dominello said on Wednesday this was unlikely to be ready on time.

“We’re moving heaven and earth to get that ready,” he said.

“The reality is right now there are other options for showing your vaccination status.

“This is just to make it easier.”

The app’s design will include a digital hologram to ensure it cannot be forged. The app’s launch has been delayed in part by the need to access federally held databases and vaccine information.

Vaccination certificates are already accessible to NSW residents but without integration they will have to be sighted by a business owner or representative.

Concerns have been raised in relation to these interactions and the prospect of increased confrontations, assaults and staffing costs to ensure only vaccinated patrons are permitted entry to venues.

Wes Lambert, chief executive of Restaurant and Catering Australia, said a new set of public health orders would be required to give businesses certainty around the rules of the vaccine passport system.

“The hospitality industry needs the public health orders to be released as a matter of urgency so that businesses understand the mechanisms and the requirements around the QR code and the sighting of vaccination certificates,” he said.

The Australian understands that updated public health orders are being drafted and likely to be released by October 1.

A trial of the app will begin on October 6 in regional areas of NSW, with Sydney to be excluded because of concerns that reopened venues could attract crowds.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Wednesday the government had already begun working on draft proposals for a further easing of restrictions once 80 per cent of NSW’s adult population had received both vaccine doses.

The details of these plans would likely be announced during mid-October, she said.