MidCoast Council mayor, David West has called on the State government to support the concept of a vaccination passport for everyone who has been fully inoculated against COVID-19.
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Cr West's request was made during a Zoom conference this morning, Friday, September 17 with regional and rural mayors, community leaders and State government leaders, including deputy premier, John Barilaro.
Organised by Local Government NSW (LGNSW) president, Linda Scott, the meeting was held to discuss how best to boost regional vaccination rollouts, testing facilities, sewer testing and pathways out of lockdown.
Cr West was concerned residents from the Sydney Basin continued to exploit loopholes in the government's stay-at-home orders, continuing to visit the Mid Coast region.
"The (lockdown) rules are still the same (for Sydney)," Cr West said.
"But, how are we going to stop them."
Cr West acknowledged struggling business operators desperately needed an injection of cash, but at the same time protocols needed to be adhered to.
He believed a vaccination passport could be along similar lines to the existing customer save check-in QR system introduced during the pandemic.
I would like certainty that people can come to this area to generate economic growth through tourism; it's one of our biggest industries.
- MidCoast Council mayor, David West
"I would like certainty that people can come to this area to generate economic growth through tourism; it's one of our biggest industries.
"But, it has to be done without risking people who live here, and it has to be done in such a way it does not impose an added cost to small local businesses."
Cr West also was concerned about the slow roll-out of vaccines in certain parts of the region.
"In some areas of the Mid Coast area there is a wait until mid-November."
Cr West said the deputy premier did amit during the meeting the government had mismanaged the roll-out to reginal parts of the State in the early stages.
"Then they finally realised there was a problem."
Cr West said he fully supported what both the State and Federal governments had undertaken during the past 18 months.
"They have been beaten from pillar to post; how often do you have to deal with a pandemic."
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