THINKING OUTSIDE THE COVID BOX
1. Nothing more Aussie than “vaccine lotto”
Australian government officials have “sought advice from Tabcorp on how a lottery could be designed to encourage vaccination, after the company indicated in July that it supported the idea”.
“Introducing a dedicated lottery for those vaccinated would require, among other things, navigating the requirements of our state lottery licences and responsible gambling practices, the approval of state government regulators, gaining clarification from the Therapeutic Goods Administration around incentivising vaccinations, and maintaining customer privacy,” a July statement from Tabcorp read.
Independent think tank the Grattan Institute supported the idea of a lottery, recommending the government to put up $80 million as an incentive, with $10 million in weekly prizes granted to random vaccinated members of the public from November.
The proposed plan is similar to a lottery in the US which offered a $6.7 million incentive for civilians.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton has previously backed the idea of a vaccine lottery as the government scrambles to get the country to its 80 per cent vaccination target.
“I‘m in favour of the lottery. I think it’s a great idea,” Mr Dutton told the Today Show in July.
“The only two flaws which the company has identified is they need regulation approval and someone to pay for it. So apart from that it seems like a sound proposal. Anything to incentivise people to get vaccinated I‘m in favour of.”
2. Double-jabbed Aussies could be freed from lockdown early in new plan
Fully vaccinated Australians could be allowed to leave lockdown early and enter bars, pubs, and clubs with a ‘vaccine passport’.
Hospitality bosses are pushing for a reopening of venues as early as next month in an effort to rebuild an industry hard-hit by gruelling lockdowns.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a target of six million vaccines by the end of August and teased plans to offer incentives for vaccinated residents.
She said her government was ‘very keen’ to explore what opportunities could be provided if the jab was incentivised.
‘In particular, we know that people value their freedom, their desire to go back to work, their desire to engage in community life,’ she said.
‘And those are the type of incentives that will be looking at over the next little while to provide our citizens with the opportunities to know, that if they’re vaccinated and their loved ones are vaccinated, there will be opportunities for greater freedom moving forward.’
Hospitality boss Luke Mangan told the Daily Telegraph he welcomed a path to freedom through vaccinations but said from a business standpoint it would only be viable with more jabs in arms.
‘We don’t really have a clear pathway at this stage and that’s very much needed. If there is a vision to get to that point it’s something I would certainly consider,’ he said.
‘What’s the point of us all getting vaccinated and still being locked up?’
ClubsNSW chief executive Josh Landis said any resident who got vaccinated should be allowed ‘life’s usual freedoms’ of enjoying themselves at their local pub.
The lobby group has already made moves to reward double-jabbed patrons with a free drink when the lockdown is finally over.
Sydney Restaurant Group owner Bill Drakopolous said hosting double-jabbed patrons in restaurants would be ideal if it meant hospitality could start in September.
‘If that was a way to get our workforce back, dust the cobwebs off our chairs and tables, get trading again, not rely on government handouts to live from week to week… we’ll do that with open arms,’ he said.
Sydney pub baron Justin Hemmes made an emotional appeal to his workers to get vaccinated so his popular Sydney venues could open as soon as next month.
The hospitality mogul made the impassioned plea after the government predicted 80 per cent of the population would be jabbed by November.
Mr Hemmes said the ‘wonderful news’ meant lockdowns could be lifted and restrictions eased enough to welcome guests back in to his popular venues.
‘There is a road to recovery, we all have a role to play in it. If you are willing, please get vaccinated,’ he said.
