Queensland’s peak business agency is wondering how the next vaccine milestone will affect trade, concerned about SMEs in the regions most hit by the COVID-19 Public Health Order. We are asking the government to make it clearer.
After the state’s first 80% vaccination milestone was achieved early, companies will prepare new government regulations from December 17th that will mandate how to trade in outbreaks and exposures to the virus. There are only 4 days left.
Currently, the Queensland Chamber of Commerce (CCIQ) is now providing companies with details on what new rules will apply when the state reaches the next milestone with a 90% vaccination rate. I’m asking the government.
Some of the new rules coming into force from Friday were welcomed. For example, companies no longer have to do expensive deep cleans after being listed as exposed sites. A simple wipe down is enough.
Other rules mean that unvaccinated staff need to be replaced and reject unvaccinated customers. Businesses also need to display signs to inform their patrons of the new rules.
Amanda Rohan, CCIQ’s policy and advocacy general manager, said the new state rules would have a disproportionate impact on small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in rural areas, when they come into force on 17 December.
“Companies that had to navigate the process of eviction or dismissal of unvaccinated staff were concerned that it could all be due to potentially short-lived missions. “There is,” Rohan said.
“Companies are very concerned about the conditions and rules of them, their staff, and their customers, whatever it is, whenever the state reaches the next immunization milestone.”
Rohan said many companies have spent a lot of money and resources preparing for the December 17 deadline, but don’t know how much it will cost for the next milestone.
“When these companies get back into business, being forced to adapt to new rules and rule changes can be costly, frustrating, and devastating for some. ..
“Companies want to know when the next vaccine milestone is expected to be achieved and what that means for them,” she said.
Queensland companies have been assisted through $ 2.3 billion worth of grants, loans, tax cuts, fee exemptions and deferred payments to support short-term and long-term recovery from pandemics.
However, according to CCIQ, certainty about future rule changes is needed to enable a company to return to business in case of impact.
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Caden Pearson is an Australian-based reporter with a background in screen writing and documentary. Contact him at [email protected]