Days out from the start of a crucial trial testing how Victorian businesses will function when the state emerges from lockdown, the state government is yet to reveal where and how the program will work.
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The government announced the vaccinated economy trials on September 26, saying up to 20 businesses across six highly vaccinated regional areas would participate in the program to "test systems and support" in the two weeks leading up to restrictions easing when Victoria hits 70 per cent fully vaccinated.
As a regional area with high vaccination rates and, until recently, very few COVID-19 cases, Warrnambool was chosen along with Bass Coast, Pyrenees, Greater Bendigo, Buloke and East Gippsland as one of the six participating areas.
But less than a week out, and with Warrnambool trying to control a sudden COVID-19 outbreak, the government still hasn't confirmed which businesses are participating, whether the trial will proceed on schedule, or whether Warrnambool's outbreak affects its participation.
Warrnambool City Council was unable to confirm how many local businesses had been put forward to participate. A spokesperson said they expect an announcement on the trial by this Friday, one business day before the program is meant to commence.
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The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions declined to provide any further information when contacted by The Standard. A spokesperson said further details would be provided closer to the start of the trial.
Trials can only be held in venues or premises that can safely accommodate multiple observers and trial support staff without breaching capacity limits, and participating businesses must have the capability to work with multiple observers and support staff to satisfy the trial.
One of the key objectives will be working out the best way to confirm people's vaccination status when they enter a business. Premier Daniel Andrews has suggested this will be done digitally on the Services Victoria app, using a similar process to the current QR code system.
A number of local business owners have expressed concern about enforcing vaccine mandates on patrons, saying the burden will be on staff who aren't necessarily prepared for the conflict this may create. The department said staff training would be a component of the trial.
The system will need to be up and running by the time Victoria hits its 70 per cent double dose vaccine target, which Mr Andrews said was still on track for October 26 "if not sooner".
At that point restrictions will ease in regional Victoria, allowing the patron cap in regional cafes, pubs and restaurants to increase to 30 people for indoor spaces and 100 people for outdoor spaces. All patrons will have to be fully vaccinated.
Hotel Warrnambool owner Steve Phillpot said he was looking forward to welcoming more patrons into his premises, but didn't try to apply for the trial.
"I'd have the same chance winning Tattslotto as being one of 20 sites across the state," he said.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Hotel Association said they believed only two or three hotels across Victoria would be chosen to take part in the trial.
Pending the results of the first trial, and the successful rollout of the program on or around October 26, a second trial is in the pipeline in the lead up to the 80 per cent fully vaccinated milestone.
This second trial will include much larger venues and will test the same systems and technology on a large scale.
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