Monday, 4 October 2021

NSW Coalition Government admits vaccination certificates may not be available by 11 October 2021 & concerns grow that QR code monitoring may be removed from state's public health response and COVID-19 case tracing & contacting downgraded to an ineffectual level

 



YASMIN CATLEY MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DIGITAL


NO VAX APP FOR ROADMAP, BEREJIKLIAN GOVERNMENT ADMITS


The NSW Government has admitted that the vaccination certificate feature on the Service NSW app will not be ready when the state reopens on 11 October.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Customer Service and Digital, Victor Dominello also told 7:30 he is planning on withdrawing mandatory QR codes completely come December – which received a no comment from the Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant at a Parliamentary hearing yesterday.

VICTOR DOMINELLO: I think the QR codes should be retired once we get to the 90 per cent mark.
[ABC 7:30, WEDNESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2021]


The delay of this app is causing significant anxiety amongst the business community who face having to police the vaccination status of customers.

QR codes and the check-in system have been vital to testing, tracing, isolation & quarantine (TTIQ), a cornerstone of the National Roadmap and Doherty Institute Modelling.

The Committee also heard that the Government is still considering what TTIQ looks like at 70 per cent, with reopening only a week away.

Minister Dominello also indicated future measures may increasingly rely on automated text messages and questionnaires, which the committee was told yielded lower compliance - with a response rate of as little as 40-50 per cent.

NSW Labor is concerned without a working app and a clear approach to contact tracing, public confidence in the reopening will be seriously undermined. We are seeking assurances that this will not place an additional burden on hospital capacity.

Shadow Minister for Customer Service and Digital, Yasmin Catley MP said businesses are desperate for certainty and are deeply concerned the failure of the app to be ready for reopening will place staff in the difficult position of enforcing compliance with the health orders.

“The Minister has form in letting business down consistently throughout this pandemic and the delay of the app is just another instance of the Minister failing to provide certainty”, Ms Catley said.

“This is the Minister that botched the rollout of critical financial support to businesses right across this state, leaving business waiting weeks for applications to be processed while their income completely dried up.

“The NSW Government needs to step up to the plate and provide the business community with clear answers on if the app will be ready on 11 October, and if not when can business owners expect the app to be available?” Ms Catley said.

DATE: FRIDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2021


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