NSW vs VIC: over 90% 1st dose, what’s next?

All back as restrictions ease in Victoria

Victorians are enjoying eased restrictions, which the Premier describes as “a return to normal”. From Friday, double-vaccinated Victorians have almost no remaining public health restrictions to navigate. The number of patrons at cafes and restaurants no longer has to be restricted, pubs and clubs are open, and home visitors are uncapped.

Major sporting and cultural events such as the Boxing Day Test and the Australian Open will not face attendance or density caps, and vaccinated shoppers can freely hunt for Christmas gifts.

But unvaccinated people will not be allowed into non-essential retail, won’t be able to visit hairdressers and real estate inspections, or take part in community sport. Anyone who hasn’t had two jabs of a vaccine faces 14 days isolation as a close contact of a COVID-19 case, compared with seven days for the fully vaccinated. A tiny proportion of Australians have medical exemptions from vaccination, because of the risk of allergic reactions and other side effects.

NSW could roll back more restrictions this week

Masks, QR codes and close contact rules could be among the coronavirus measures rolled back early in NSW.

Premier Dominic Perrottet on Sunday flagged he was considering more changes, including the requirements for close contacts of Covid-19 cases. Currently, vaccinated close contacts must self-isolate for seven days, while unvaccinated close contacts must isolate for 14 days.

That came after Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello last week said mandatory check-ins would be wound back for low-risk venues if cases keep falling. Masks are currently mandatory in all indoor settings except offices. The rules are slated to remain in place until December 15, when restrictions for unvaccinated residents will ease.

Saturday Victorian protest

Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people gathered in Melbourne to protest vaccine mandates and the Victorian government’s proposed pandemic bill.

The Victorian government’s pandemic bill was designed to replace State of Emergency laws which were used to bring restrictions in during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill has been the subject of intense debate and has attracted protests outside the Victorian parliament.

As in previous weeks, Saturday’s large crowd in Melbourne is a mix of young, old and families from different backgrounds. Common chants are “Sack Dan Andrews”, “Jail Dan Andrews”, “Free Victoria” and “Save Our Children” (the latter referring to the crowd’s opposition to the vaccination of children).

How many people at these protests would still go if they knew who they were marching alongside?

The protests should have a sobering effect on leaders of good sense who care about democracy. As we head into a federal election year in 2022, we are seeing the pre-conditions for fringe politicians with extremist views to be elected and hold the balance of power in parliament, by doing or saying whatever it takes to hold that power.

The protests should have a sobering effect on leaders of good sense who care about democracy. As we head into a federal election year in 2022, we are seeing the pre-conditions for fringe politicians with extremist views to be elected and hold the balance of power in parliament, by doing or saying whatever it takes to hold that power.