Tassie business offers $100 bonus for vaxxed staff

A Tasmanian resort is offering $100 vouchers for staff who get vaccinated against Covid-19, as calls ramp up nationally for the jab rollout to save businesses from collapse. HAVE YOUR SAY >>

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The Tamar Valley Resort in Tasmania’s north is offering $100 vouchers for staff who get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Recently business figures have been pushing for Australia’s vaccination rollout to be ramped up to help save companies from collapse.

Northern Tasmanian workers in the hospitality and tourism sector will be able to receive their vaccine in Launceston at an industry specific clinic from July 25.

A clinic for vaccinating those in the hospitality and tourism industry was also rolled out in Hobart.

Tamar Valley Resort general manager Damien Pinkerton said it was great that tourism and hospitality employees were now able to access the vaccine.

“I have been concerned for some time now, that my staff have not been able to access a potentially lifesaving Covid jab,” Mr Pinkerton said.

“Hospitality and tourism staff are the people dealing day to day with guests travelling all over Australia so it makes sense that they be offered a chance to be vaccinated,” he said.

The Tasmanian tourism and hospitality industry has been hit hard by the fallout from the pandemic and the Tamar Valley Resort is among those that have experienced a large number of cancellations due to state lockdowns.

The vouchers can be used at the various facilities at the resort including accommodation, restaurants and its golf course.

Visit Northern Tasmania chief executive officer Chris Griffin said it was a fantastic initiative.

“They are dealing with lots of visitors from interstate, lots of visitors from Tasmania and it is essential hospitality and tourism workers are able to access the vaccine,” he said.

“The most crucial thing is that we are getting vaccinated so we get that all important herd immunity which will allow us to travel freer, not just visitors coming to the state but for us as well.”

Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief executive officer Steve Old said it was a great initiative and the THA had pushed the state government to prioritise the sector and open industry specific clinics.

“A large portion of the hospitality workforce are younger people, for which the vaccine wouldn’t otherwise be available to at the moment, so this is a great opportunity for those people to protect themselves and the industry,” he said.