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Throughout the Victorian lockdowns, there has been a frustrating information time lag between the announcement of restrictions and the details. It seems the latest “Circuit Breaker Lockdown” is no exception.

At some time since the Premier’s announcement on Friday, the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website has been updated to include information specific to car wash operations.

The information can be found here, https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/shopping-and-retail#can-a-car-wash-still-operate.

As a result, ACWA regrets to inform that the official Government information now states “Car washes, including those operating as part of petrol stations, must not operate”.

ACWA also advises that at least one site in metropolitan Melbourne has been attended by Vic Police and ordered to close.

This is a difficult circumstance for car wash operators to navigate. We all appreciate that closing a site is not a simple matter of flicking the switch.

And, in some cases, by the time sites are closed, the lockdown period will have expired. For this reason ACWA has been informed that some members do not intend to close their sites at this time.

The Association makes no judgement; however, operators need to be aware that penalties may apply if operating in contravention of the Chief Health Officer’s orders.

Please note the Government regulations allow for workplaces to be attended to facilitate decommissioning.

ACWA has done an extensive search on various WA Government websites this morning. As has been typical of State Government processes in all states during the pandemic, website information is often out of date, confused and difficult to find.

In essence, the only thing on line remains yesterday’s Premier’s Announcement https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/perth-metro-peel-and-south-west-enter-hard-lockdown.

What can be found in news reports and the Premier’s Statement is summarised below:

AREAS IMPACTED

Effective from 6 pm 31 January 2021 until 6 pm Friday, 5 February, the Perth metropolitan area and the Peel and South-West regions will enter a 5-day lockdown. Only the Perth Metro, Peel and South West Areas are impacted.

• The Peel Region http://www.drd.wa.gov.au/regions/Pages/Peel.aspx
• The South West Region http://www.drd.wa.gov.au/regions/Pages/South-West.aspx

REASONS TO LEAVE HOME

The Public is advised they can leave home for essential reasons including:

1. Shopping for essentials and medicine:
   • Note we assume that all products and services not listed in the venues and “Businesses that Must Close” list below, can open and can be legally purchased as “essential” items.
   • On this basis car washing is a legitimate product for purchase
2. Work, if you cannot do so from home
3. Accessing medical or health care services
4. Exercise, but only within your neighbourhood for one hour per day

BUSINESSES THAT MUST CLOSE

The WA State Government has declared the following businesses must close:

• Pubs
• Bars
• Clubs
• gyms
• Indoor sporting facilities
• Playgrounds
• Skate parks
• Cinemas
• Entertainment venues
• The casino
• Religious venues
• Libraries
• Restaurants-able to open for takeaway
• Cafes – able to open for takeaway

MASKS

1. Masks are required when engaged in any of the reasons to leave home.
2. Clearly, wearing masks in the workplace is mandatory.

OTHER 

• Funerals to be reduced to 10 guests
• Weddings scheduled during the five-day lockdown must be cancelled.
• Public and private schools in affected areas to close.
• Childcare centres can remain open for the children of people who cannot work from home.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – COVID SAFE PLANS AND GUIDELINES 

The latest information and tools, including industry-specific COVID Safety Plans and Guidelines for Western Australia, can be found here  https://www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/covid-19-coronavirus-covid-safety-plans-and-guidelines.

The Perth metropolitan area and the Peel and South-West regions are moving to a 5-day lockdown effective at 6pm, Sunday 31 January, 2021 until 6pm Friday, 5 February 2021.

ACWA has been unable to locate specific details on the lockdown however according to the announcement there does not appear to be any restrictions around the operation of car wash sites.  However, if you intend opening your site during the lockdown please note previous ACWA notices about sanitation, social distancing and COVID Safe Plans should be implemented immediately.

The lockdown announcement can be found here https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/perth-metro-peel-and-south-west-enter-hard-lockdown

ACWA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates when information becomes available.

Members Zoom Meeting – Western Australian Lockdown Support Meeting

Members who require support or information at this time are invited to attend a general discussion on the Western Australian COVID 19 Lockdown situation via ZOOM at 9.15 am (Perth time) Monday 1 February 2021. 

ACWA President Neil Fox will Chair the meeting and we will collectively answer any questions based on our past experience with COVID Lockdowns in other States.  To be part of the forum click the highlighted link below or dial in and connect by phone.

Topic: Western Australian Lockdown

Time: Feb 1, 2021 12:15 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney ….09.15 AM Perth time.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82436371972?pwd=TnJ2bTJKQmxuN0FPTnVZR2FERU9Odz09

Meeting ID: 824 3637 1972

Passcode: 173789

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Dial by your location

+61 8 6119 3900 Australia

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Meeting ID: 824 3637 1972

Passcode: 173789

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kb3gj9P5ag

 

 

Only ACWA Members receive free annual wage rate analysis and calculations provided by the Association’s Industrial Relations experts, Employment Services & Solutions Australia (ESSA).

We take this opportunity to remind car wash operators that car wash operator employers must comply with minimum wage and/or Award obligations. There are severe penalties for non-compliance. The revised rates come into effect from the first pay period commencing on or after 1 February 2021.

The new wage rates calculations are now available by logging into the Members’ section of the ACWA website https://acwa.net.au/members/. The most recent wage rates calculations can be quickly located by clicking on Quick-Find – Wage Rates, Templates, Manuals and Business Essentials in the left-hand navigation panel.

Importantly, ESSA has advised that the Fair Work Commission and the Fair Work Ombudsman have not yet released their revised rates. This has usually occurred by now. Without the usual checking process in place, ESSA has been required to calculate and cross-check each individual rate with their “interpretation of the Decision”. The rates provided at this time are accurate; however, ESSA will reconfirm details as soon as the regulators release their rates.

Please also remember that one of the services available to all ACWA members is one-on-one consultation with our Industrial Relations Specialists at ESSA. So, if you are a paid-up member and require assistance, simply call the ACWA HELPLINE and ask for Graham Lilleyman.

Details of the ESSA service agreement for Members can also be found on the ACWA website.

ACWA Announces Postponement of the 2021 Rinse! National Tour

Before Christmas ACWA announced the launch of the Rinse! National Tour.

At the time of the announcement, the Australian COVID-19 landscape appeared stable. However, over the Christmas holiday period, there have been new COVID 19 outbreaks in NSW, Victoria and Queensland resulting in both quarantine and border chaos.

Mercifully infection numbers in all states have been low, and our businesses continue to operate. However, the response from Government has included swift, sweeping and volatile changes to interstate travel policies.

Regrettably, the high-risk travel environment created by the changes makes conducting Rinse! in the foreseeable future impossible. Noting, that potential State lockdowns and border closures pose the very real risk of leaving staff stranded interstate.

As a result, ACWA has been forced to postpone the Rinse! events.

Everyone at ACWA has been looking forward to catching up with our members and creating something of an industry celebration to kick-off 2021. And, we have been overwhelmed by the response and, particularly, the backing of Rinse! 2021 by our supplier members.

To put it colloquially, we are “gutted” to have to make this announcement.

We will advise the revised dates ASAP.

Earlier this morning Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced significant changes to health regulations in the Greater Brisbane area. This included a declaration that residents in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will be required to stay at home.

The lockdown announcement is for three days and commences at 6 pm tonight, Friday 8 January, until 6 pm Monday 11 January.

Full details of restrictions can be found here https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/greater-brisbane-lockdown.

Please note that essential businesses (including car washes) can remain open as they did during the March 2020 restriction period. However, if located in an impacted area, your car wash will need to have a COVID Safe Plan to remain operational. 

Importantly masks must be worn everywhere in the declared local government areas except if people are in their home.  Car wash operators should ensure ALL STAFF are issued with masks while on-site and further, ensure they are worn.

For information, the Businesses that must close are as follows:

• Retail food services including pubs, restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets except for takeaway services.
• Entertainment facilities, such as theatres, cinemas, music halls and concert halls.
• Hairdressers
• Amusement centres, such as places to play billiards, pool, pinball machines or video games.
• Indoor recreation facilities such as squash courts, indoor swimming pools and gyms.
• Places of public worship, except for weddings and funerals in line with the person limits.
• Spas, nail salons, hairdressers, beauty salons, waxing salons, tanning salons and tattoo parlours
• Massage parlours unless provided by a registered health practitioner or qualified massage therapist.
• Auction houses
• Betting agencies and gaming lounges
• Markets, except for food and farmers markets
• Galleries, museums and libraries
• Community facilities, such as community halls
• Sex on-premises services, sex services premises and strip clubs
• Public swimming pools
• Nightclubs

Previous ACWA notices about sanitation, social distancing and COVID Safe Plans should be implemented immediately. Queensland Government COVID Safe Plan information can be found here https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/approved-industry-covid-safe-plans.

ACWA Members can access COVID Safe Plan Templates by logging into the member’s area of the ACWA website https://acwa.net.au/members

Launched in Brisbane in September 2019, the inaugural Rinse! was an outstanding success. We are now looking forward to hosting Australia’s friendliest car wash industry event as we take Rinse! to the next level, with 2021 Rinse! National Tour.

Rinse! Boardwalk Showcase

The focal point of the exhibition, the Rinse! Boardwalk Showcase.  The Showcase presents car wash operators the opportunity to learn about the latest products in the marketplace from Australia’s leading car wash industry suppliers.

Rinse! After wash

Following the Boardwalk Showcase, enjoy a casual get together at Afterwash where you can continue to talk business or enjoy a drink and nibbles with car wash industry colleagues and friends.

Check out the date Rinse! is visiting your State and make sure it is in your diary in 2021.

The ACWA office will be closed for a short time over the Christmas and New Year holiday season/  We will be closed between:

Thursday 24 December 2020 until Monday 11 January 2021.

We take this opportunity to thank all members for their support during this testing year.  We look forward to working with you all again in 2021.

For any help with emergencies during this time, please call 0400 070 417.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

It appears members operating in NSW are not impacted by the announcement of new restrictions on business imposed by the NSW Government over the weekend. The new restrictions can be found here;

• Restrictions for Northern Beaches https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/northern-beaches
•  Restrictions for Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong  https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/greater-sydney

With potentially fewer people moving about, there may be a downturn in business through your washes.  Obviously this is not an ideal outcome as we come into the Christmas break however, we hope the situation will be under control quickly and, the impact minimised.

Please play your role in keeping the community and staff safe through this challenging time.  ACWA takes this opportunity to ask you to consider implementing the following simple steps:

• Ensure staff are adequately briefed on their responsibilities and your wash’s safety procedures
• Ensure adequate supplies of hand sanitiser are available for staff and customers
• Ensure social distancing signage is in place – Available for FREE to members by logging into the members only section of the ACWA website  https://acwa.net.au/members/#myaccount
• Encourage the use of masks by all staff
• Even though car washing is not mandated to do so, ACWA strongly recommends your have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe.
• By completing the NSW Government’s online Plan, your wash will receive  the “COVID Safe businesses blue tick badge ”which can be displayed on your premises and shows your customers that you’re committed to their safety

We wish all members a happy and safe Christmas at this difficult time.

ACWA has been asked by washes located in SA and WA if they are required to implement their State’s QR COVID Tracing System.

Dealing with COVID regulations is never easy, and each state expresses and creates their directions in a different manner.  The following reflects the detail of our state-by-state research.

Importantly, ALL STATES REQUIRE BUSINESSES TO HAVE A COVID SAFE PLAN.  COVID Safe Business Plan Templates for car washes can be these can be downloaded from the Member’s Section of the ACWA Website.

South Australia

In South Australia, it is arguable that car washes need to use the QR Scan System as they don’t quite fit the definition of a Defined Public Activity. In SA, the following businesses are required to use the QR Code System:

• onsite purchase and consumption of food or beverages (whether occurring in an indoor or outdoor area)
• sport (including sports training), fitness or recreation activities
• indoor public meetings
• ceremonies
• private functions
• provision of personal care services
• provision of public entertainment
• provision of recreational transport
• the operation of a nightclub
• the operation of relevant licensed premises
• the operation of a casino or gaming area (within the meaning of the Gaming Machines Act 1992)
• auctions and inspections of premises for the purpose of sale or rental of any property
• driver instruction
• an assembly within the meaning of the Public Assemblies Act 1972
• the provision of health care, residential care, disability support or aged care services.
• A general retail industry premises is a place where retail sale or hire of goods or services for personal, household, or business use occurs and where customers are physically present. This includes supermarkets, department stores, hardware stores, and general retail.

For clarity, car washing was not considered a retail sales business during past COVID restrictions conditions and therefore ACWA does not believe it falls into this category now.   Details can be found here:

https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities/covid-safe-check-in#:~:text=When%20people%20arrive%20at%20a,through%20the%20mySA%20Gov%20app.&text=From%201%20December%2C%20all%20defined,approved%20contact%20tracing%20system%20enabled.

As mentioned above, our assessment above is based on the consideration that car washing was not considered a retail sales business under previous COVID restrictions conditions.

However, a respected South Australian ACWA Member has pointed out that the SA Government’s COVID Safe Plan (which can be located here https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/business-and-work/create-a-covid-safe-plan ) only took 5 minutes to complete and, in doing so, gave peace of mind that all bases were covered.

Other SA car wash operators may wish to take the same approach.

 

Western Australia

In Western Australia, particular businesses are required to maintain contact registers for WA Health Department COVID-19 contact tracing, if needed. Contact registration is encouraged but not mandatory for other businesses and gatherings.

Businesses required to use the QR Code System are as follows:

• food and licensed venues (restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, taverns, nightclubs)
• gyms, indoor sporting centres, wellness centres, health clubs and fitness centres
• indoor play centres
• saunas and bathhouses
• swimming pool, both indoors and outdoors
• places of worship, and funeral parlours
• beauty and personal care services (hairdressers, barbers, nail salons, tattoo parlours, spa and massage parlours)
• galleries and museums
• cinemas, theatres and other entertainment venues (casino, gaming or gambling venues)
• auction houses and real estate inspections
• community facilities, libraries and halls
• zoos and amusement parks
• function centres
• hotels, motels, campgrounds or other accommodation facilities that ordinarily have check-in arrangements
• boarding schools or residential colleges (not including residents)
• adult entertainment premises (strip clubs, brothels and sex on premises venues)

Further information can be found here:https://www.wa.gov.au/government/publications/covid-19-coronavirus-contact-registers-businesses-and-venues-frequently-asked-questions

 Victoria

In Victoria, the use of the QR Code System is optional however there is a record-keeping requirement applies to all persons attending a facility or venue for longer than 15 minutes, which may include staff, customers, maintenance and delivery workers.

This should be part of your business’s COVID Safe Plan.

 New South Wales

In NSW, messaging is complicated and unclear however, we don’t believe car washing appears to be a business that is required to mandatorily collect customer data or use that State’s QR Code System. Once again, it is essential to note that companies should be operating with a COVID Safe Plan.

NSW information can be found here.  https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe  we hope you have better luck interpreting and finding the details than ACWA did!

 Queensland

In Queensland, only “restricted businesses” are required to collect contact tracing details. Car washing is not a restricted business.

Information is available here. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers/business-activity-undertaking-direction

 Tasmania 

Use of the app is not mandatory, and car washing is not a business listed as requiring the collection of customer data.

A list of businesses required to collect data can be found here https://coronavirus.tas.gov.au/business-and-employees/business-restrictions

Canberra

Use of the app is not mandatory, and car washing is not a business listed as requiring the collection of customer data.

A list of businesses required to collect data can be found here https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/ni/2020-790/current/PDF/2020-790.PDF

 Northern Territory

Use of the app is not mandatory, and car washing is not a business listed as requiring the collection of customer data.

A list of businesses required to collect data can be found here https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/951879/cho-directions-no56-safety-measures-places-businesses-activities-services-premises.pdf