Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews announced that by 15 October, all authorised workers across Victoria will need to have at least one dose of the vaccination so that the state can continue on its path out of lockdown.
“This is critically important to keep the case numbers down so that we can open up on 26 October, get our freedom back, get the economy going again, and deliver the national plan,” Mr Andrews said.
“This is advice from both the Burnet Institute and advice from the acting chief health officer and the public health team and, as all Victorians know and understand, if we are provided with that advice then we follow that advice.
“The science is what will get us through this and it is incredibly important that people who have not had a first dose and are an authorised worker are moving, are out and about, are part of all of that movement that we know is so challenging when it comes to the spread of this virus.”
Teachers, healthcare workers and construction workers are not affected by the new mandate and already have their own mandates.
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People will be required to get the jab if they work in: a supermarket, grocery store, bakery, butcher, fruit and vegetable store, fishmonger, indoor/outdoor market, restaurant, cafe, food truck pub, bar or hotel, whether licensed or unlicensed, but only to the extent that: it provides takeaway meals or drinks or a meal delivery service; or it provides food, drink, accommodation or other essential services to those seeking shelter (for example, for reasons of homelessness or family violence), bottle shop, financial institution, consular/diplomatic service, court tribunal, electorate office, Victorian Parliament, Ministerial office, post office, consular and diplomatic services, court, tribunal or commission services, an electorate office, Victorian Parliament, a Ministerial office, post office, maternal and child health service, news agent, pharmacy, petrol station (including a petrol station that sells groceries), vehicle and mechanical repair services, construction, pet store, a veterinary clinic, and related services (on-farm visits and animal care services) where there is a genuine animal welfare issue, or for the purposes of artificial insemination, services connected with animal health, husbandry or welfare, including the RSPCA, zoos and nature reserves for the purposes of treating or caring for animals, performing an animal rescue function or maintaining the facility/reserve and broadcast, an abattoir, meat, seafood or poultry processing plant, animal saleyards, knackeries and animal transportation services (including livestock and pets), urgent services necessary for the health and safety of any person, animal or premises, immunisation or vaccination services, essential child protection activities, a childcare, early learning centre, kindergarten, preschool or family day care provider, a primary or secondary school, a boarding school, a ‘click and collect’ service, a locksmith’s, a community facility (for click and collect only),carparks, laundry and dry cleaners, commercial cleaners in non-residential premises when servicing an Authorised Provider for cleaning services that cannot be deferred, pool and spa maintenance service provider when servicing commercial pools and spas, or those in residential apartment premises, hair clinics offering specialist treatment services to clients who have a medical certificate and require the treatment for health and wellbeing reasons.
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The vaccine will not be mandated for services that operate solely outdoors where physical distancing can be maintained at all times, or solo work unless additional workers are required for safety reasons. Permitted services are limited to outdoor maintenance, repairs, and cleaning, including at occupied premises, home installations (outdoor only), home solar panel installations (only for outdoor work or in roof cavities with external access), pet grooming mobile services that can be undertaken in a contactless manner (businesses with an ABN) and operate solely outdoors where physical distancing can be maintained at all times.
