Premier Daniel Andrews is keen to dump the last vestiges of Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions within months, as the state government defends the retention of worker vaccine mandates.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Victoria's pandemic declaration was extended by three months to July 12, allowing for the ongoing enforcement of COVID-19 measures such as mask and vaccine mandates.
Although the declaration is due to expire in the middle of winter, Mr Andrews is open to the possibility of letting it lapse.
"I don't know what independent advice I'm going to get in the days leading up to the 12th of July. It's my hope that we don't need that (pandemic declaration)," he told reporters on Thursday.
"Or we need something less than that or we need some other arrangement. That would be terrific.
"I made it really clear to every Victorian if you got vaccinated, then we would have more options. We'd be able to get rid of these rules. That's exactly what we're doing."
The Andrews government has green lit sweeping changes to restrictions, including scrapping compulsory seven-day isolation for close contacts, mandatory indoor masks for grade 3 to 6 students and its controversial "vaccinated economy".
Under the easing rules, patrons will no longer have to prove their vaccination status or check in when entering pubs, restaurants, movie theatres and sports venues from 11.59pm on Friday.
However, existing double- and triple-dose requirements remain for workers in hospitality, office, construction, healthcare, food distribution, police, emergency service and education settings.
It means unvaccinated Victorians will be able to drink a beer at a pub but not pour one.
Health Minister Martin Foley has not acted on a recommendation from Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton to move away from vaccine mandates in favour of workplaces setting their own policies.
He defended the retention of the workforce vaccine mandates for now, crediting them for driving up vaccination rates.
"The position I've adopted is to recognise the hard work that Victorians have taken, keep the vaccine arrangements in place ... and review them in the coming weeks and months ahead," Mr Foley told ABC TV on Thursday.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy called on the state government to set an official date for the end of the pandemic declaration and scrap vaccine mandates for hospitality and construction workers.
"There is a great understanding from the community that in high-risk settings we'll have different rules ... but in most settings we've just got to move on," he said.
Victoria recorded 10,674 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths on Thursday.
Australian Associated Press
