After more than 100 days in lockdown bars across New South Wales were finally able to open their doors and freedom day was widely embraced.
Here we take a look at how people celebrated being back at the bar.
While the combined NSW Service and MyGov app, to show people are checked-in and vaccinated is not yet ready, Digital and Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello encouraged people to have their vaccination status ready to go.
“There are already three ways to get a copy of your vaccine certificate, through the Express Plus Medicare app, the digital wallet on their phone or a paper certificate from Services Australia,” he said.
Dominello also said: “The nsw.gov.au website has all the materials needed to help businesses re-open safely and we have proactively sent out information packs to help make the transition as easy as possible.”
Publican Craig Laundy had a helpful tip for patrons to speed up the check-in process.
“I will say there is one practical thing you can do, and that is if you do have the MyGov app on your phone, get to your vaccination status, take a screenshot of it and make it your wallpaper on your locked phone. Then you can just come up and show it to our staff on the front door and it will be a far quicker process for us to get you in and get you seated and enjoying things.”
There was more good news from the NSW Government, with additional financial support measures for small to medium businesses.
The Summer Holiday Stock Guarantee grant is part of the Economic Recovery Strategy and aims to give business owners the ‘confidence’ to navigate reopening and the months that follow.
Eligible businesses with a turnover rate between $75,000 and $50 million can apply for a grant of up to $20,000 to compensate for loss of perishable stock or claim $10,000 for reduced capacity to sell non-perishable items in the event of a local lockdown.
Small businesses will also be able to claim road user tolls under the Small Business Fees and Charges rebate, which has been increased from $1,500 to $2,000.
“The rebate can be used to offset NSW and local government fees and charges and adding tolls to the list of claimable charges is going to make a massive difference to many small business owners who use vehicles for work,” said Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope.
While many bars opened their doors yesterday, others are planning to open in the days and weeks ahead.
Bars and Clubs has listed the opening dates for a number of Sydney’s bars.
Good luck to all bars and venues over the coming days, weeks and months everyone at Bars and Clubs wishes you a safe and speedy recovery from lockdown. If there is anything we can do to help, email us at info@barsclubs.com.au.
