Changes to the Covid Protection Framework, Vaccine Passes and Mandates
24 March 2022
On Wednesday 23rd of March the Prime Minister announced a number of changes to the Covid 19 Protection Framework, Vaccine Passes and Mandates. These changes will take effect between 25 March and 4 April 2022.
A summary of these changes are outlined below. As with any Covid-19 related announcement, the devil is in the detail aka the Public Health Order and we must be prepared for “tweaks”. We will closely review the Public Health Order once released and update our guidance accordingly.
Covid Protection Framework
The Covid Protection Frame will remain in place and for the time being we remain at the red setting. The Prime Minister did indicate that cabinet will be resuming a regular review of the settings with the first scheduled for 4 April.
The Covid Protection Framework is largely unchanged, and the seated and separated rules will continue for food and drink businesses. There are capacity changes at the red setting and further guidance as well as mask requirements at the orange setting.
Red Setting Changes - From 11.59pm Friday, 25 March, outdoor gathering limits will be lifted. Additionally, the indoor gathering limit will increase from 100 to 200 people.
Orange Setting Changes - This setting remains largely unchanged with no gathering limits but extra guidance will be developed on holding safe events, and a new requirement for workers to wear masks at indoor events.
Green Setting Changes - No changes have been identified for the green setting.
My Vaccine Pass
From 4 April, My Vaccine Pass will no longer be required by the Government. This means that vaccinated and non-vaccinated people can visit the club and you will not need to scan or sight a person’s vaccine pass. Businesses or venues may still choose to use the vaccine passes, and therefore the infrastructure for them will remain.
The decision to continue to use the My Vaccine Pass or not will be an individual club decision and something that committees and management teams will need to give careful consideration to.
Vaccine Mandates
From 4 April, vaccine mandates will be removed, except for health and disability, aged care, corrections and border workforces.
Scanning in Requirements
From this weekend you will no longer be required to scan everywhere you go (QR Code Scanning), and businesses are no longer required to provide the mechanisms to do so.
Are these changes permanent?
If we have learnt one thing from this pandemic it is that it can all change in the blink of an eye. The Prime Minister did confirm that should a variant arise that has the potential to evade vaccines, then businesses should be ready to display QR codes again, re roll vaccine pass requirements and implement other measures at very short notice.
