Proof of vaccination will no longer be required at the City of Perth’s Australia Day Skyworks event following confusion over whether or not the city had the power to eject unvaccinated revellers from the foreshore.
Announcing the schedule of Australia Day festivities last week, City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said the Department of Health would have about 80 ‘COVID marshals’ patrol the crowd at the Skyworks, spot-checking people’s vaccination status.
Perth’s Australia Day Skyworks is back in 2022.
“They will randomly, or otherwise, ask people for ID and also proof of vaccination,” he said.
“So that will be an honour system, and people may well be tapped on the shoulder and asked to provide those details, and we will ask people to have those details.”
What powers the marshals had if someone refused a check or was not vaccinated, however, was unclear.
At a press conference on Monday to discuss the upcoming public holiday, WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said there was currently no obligation for outdoor events to have proof-of vaccination requirements.
“It’s an outdoor event. What we have, as I’m aware, as the only restrictions we have on COVID vaccination certificates is for indoor venues,” he said.
Following confusion on whether or not the local government body had the power to eject people from the foreshore if they were not vaccinated, Mr Papalia directed further questions to the City of Perth, which quietly uploaded a revised press release on the Australia Day festivities to its website on Monday.
“While proof of vaccination will no longer be required, for the safety of everyone attending we encourage visitors to be double vaccinated, practice physical distancing where possible and use the hand sanitiser provided. If you are feeling unwell, please stay home and get tested,” the release read.
City of Perth backtracks on proof of vaccination for Australia Day Skyworks crowd
Source: Philippines Alive
