Thursday 18 November 2021
Australia's largest retail peak body, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has welcomed the additional freedoms announced today by the Victorian Government but called for leniency for retailers required to introduce vaccine checks for customers with only hours to prepare.
"We welcome the new freedoms, but as most restrictions ease, mandatory vaccine checks are about to commence for retailers as they head into the most important trading period of the year," Mr Zahra said.
"Retailers are having to scramble today to ensure they're ready to comply with the new restrictions for tomorrow's trade - well ahead of the original 24 November deadline.
"Retailers are busily preparing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and are only 36 days from Christmas - which is when most discretionary retailers make up to two-thirds of their profits. With a skills crisis reducing resources during this critical trading period, the timing is unfortunate particularly for small businesses. But as they have throughout the pandemic, retailers will get on with it and comply."
The ARA has called on the Victorian Government to provide clarity around next steps in the Covid roadmap, including an end date for proof of vaccination requirements for businesses as there is in NSW.
"In NSW, retailers have been doing vaccine checks since the state exited lockdown on October 11. And at the 95% full vaccination target, or December 15 - whichever comes first - vaccine checks will be removed entirely. Within Victoria, the future settings remain unclear," Mr Zahra said.
"Despite some initial concerns over customer aggression, the vaccine checks for NSW retailers have been a seamless process, with most customers acting respectfully and complying with the Covid-safe requirements. We are hopeful it is a similar experience in Victoria - however the stop-start introduction of these requirements may make it more challenging. It's important that law enforcement agencies have the backs of the retailers and are engaged in maintaining a consistent approach to enforcement."
Mr Zahra said that with domestic and international borders opening up, a unified approach to Covid safety protocols amongst states and territories is more important than ever - minimising confusion and upsets for visitors as well as locals.
