News

COVID-19 UPDATE – VICTORIA

Members will be aware that yesterday the Victorian Government announced an easing of restrictions in Melbourne from 11.59 pm this coming Thursday, 21 October.  The Premier’s announcement came as a result of Victoria reaching the 70% double dose vaccination trigger earlier than first anticipated.

Reaching the 70% vaccination point triggers the next stage of the State Government’s “Roadmap”; however the government has also announced the additional relaxation of some community and hospitality industry regulations.

The changes also include the removal of the travel limit restriction within metropolitan Melbourne and the removal of the curfew. However, travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria does not change.  Changes are summarised in the table below.

What does this mean for car washing? 

Page 8 of the Victoria Roadmap provides for “General Retail being open for outdoor service only (plus contactless click and collect/delivery)”.

There does not appear to be a definition of “outdoor”; however, ACWA interprets the regulation as a clear sign that car washing, including self-serve, may be open.

Hand wash undertaken in an outdoor setting would also be permitted.

 Please note mandatory vaccination and Worker Permits are still required. Masks are required to be worn.

The Roadmap can be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-09/Roadmap_Metro_220921_5.pdf?_cldee=c2NvdHRAcHJvd2FzaC5jb20uYXU%3d&recipientid=contact-7a039c0287e8e81180e6000d3ae0def9-ff59b4636be545b2b090d9102eb52230&esid=fba60721-f32e-ec11-b6e6-0022481152b8

Summary of Yesterday’s Announcement

	Metropolitan Melbourne	Regional Victoria
Curfew	Removed	N/A
Travel	No limit across metropolitan Melbourne. Unless authorised, people unable to travel across metropolitan and regional boundary.	No limit across regional Victoria. Unless authorised, people unable to travel across metropolitan and regional boundary.
Visitors to Home	10 visitors per day, including dependents. Vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory.	10 visitors per day, including dependents. Vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory.
Public Gatherings	15 people inc. dependents. Vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory.	20 people inc. dependents. Vaccinations are highly recommended but not mandatory.
Hospitality	Open 20 fully vaccinated patrons indoors. 50 fully vaccinated patrons outdoors.	Open 20 fully vaccinated patrons indoors. 100 fully vaccinated patrons outdoors.
Hairdressing	Open 5 fully vaccinated patrons.	Open 30 fully vaccinated patrons.
Funerals and weddings	20 fully vaccinated people indoors. 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors.	20 fully vaccinated people indoors. 100 fully vaccinated people outdoors.
Childcare	Open Fully vaccinated parents.	Open Fully vaccinated parents.
Schools	Students in Years 3 to 11 return on Friday 22 October 2021	Students in Years 3 to 11 return on Friday 22 October 2021

 

Employer and Employee Rights – Victoria’s  Mandatory Vaccination Regulations

ACWA members have asked the Association for clarification on what the mandatory vaccination regulations in Victoria mean for car wash operators and their employees.

Courtesy of our great friends at ESSA (the ACWA IR Helpline) and drawing on the legal perspective from HR Legal’s Dan Feldman,  ACWA members can make use of the detailed information and template emailed (today) 13 October.

ACWA members have been invited to participate in a webinar on the topic – please refer to the email for the link and timing.

Members Update

The rest of Australia is cheering for our NSW cousins as they head towards the first significant step to reopening this Monday.  What a mighty effort from the NSW community, and our congratulations to all of you for your dogged success in vaccinating yourselves to “freedom”.

Let’s also take this opportunity to send a shout out to ACWA  members in the ACT, who are due to come out of lockdown next Friday the 15^th October.  Your vaccination efforts have also been massive.

We are also thrilled to advise that the Victorian Government approved that car wash premises can operate in a fully contactless manner earlier this week.  This was a small but hard-fought win in a state that has taken a hard-line and, some might argue, a fatally uncompromising position on small to medium business during the State’s COVID pandemic.

For more than a year, ACWA has relentlessly pursued the Government to change its position and supported by those members who petitioned the local politicians, together we finally managed to move the mountain!  We trust that this change, along with the $2 million in ACWA negotiated car wash grants that have flowed to operators, will help in some way to get Victorian operators to the COVID finish line.

New South Wales

Changes to the NSW Roadmap

Yesterday NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, announced changes to the NSW Roadmap for Recovery. There appears to be little in the announcement that will impact car wash businesses; however, several changes to “freedoms” will be of great personal interest.  The media release can be seen here https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/nsw-on-road-to-reopening?_cldee=c2NvdHRAcHJvd2FzaC5jb20uYXU%3d&recipientid=contact-7a039c0287e8e81180e6000d3ae0def9-0f0b5bee152843269781cd7602a7d83c&esid=db5a1f02-1a27-ec11-b6e6-002248111f3d.

Preparing for Your Business to Reopen in NSW

From Monday, October 11, the first of the significant relaxation of restrictions come into effect. ACWA’s take on the situation is that car wash sites are free to open, providing you take reasonable steps to ensure your business is COVID safe.

Ongoing COVID safety includes implementing the general safety plan as outlined on the NSW Government’s Website here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe/general-safety-plan.  Please also ensure your site is QR code compliant you can do this by heading here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe/customer-record-keeping.

Importantly take the time to check out the business requirements here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/businesses-and-employment/covid-safe-business.  This website area also houses the Government’s support resources, including posters and signage that will help keep your car wash covid compliant and safe.

Victoria

Vaccination for authorised workers from October 15 2021

Specifics regarding the Public Health Directions for the new mandatory vaccination rules for “authorised workers” that become effective from October 15 2021, are not yet available.  ACWA will relay them to members as they become available.

Victoria

Dear Member

Please note contactless car washing has been added to the Victorian Authorise Providers List and is effective immediately!

The details of the change can be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-list

The wording is as follows “ car wash premises able to operate in a fully contactless manner (excludes mobile and pickup/delivery services);”

The intention of ACWA’s application to the CHO was based on automatic contactless payment; however, the wording on the Authorised Providers List is somewhat different.

As ACWA has repeatedly maintained throughout the COVID process, we are not in a position to provide a legal interpretation, so we ask that you make your own reading of the regulation or speak to your legal representative.

Important… It is up to all of us to make sure we do everything in our power to make commercial carwashing covid free.  All requirements of Authorised Workplaces are required, including COVID Safe Plans QR code check-in and mandatory vaccinations.

We understand members will be keen to open as soon as possible, so this communication has been developed and circulated in haste.  In the coming days, ACWA will provide further detail as well as signage advising customers that car washing is a permitted provider.

COVID-19 UPDATE –  Increased Face Mask Restrictions for Brisbane and Moreton Bay

Queensland Health has just announced increased restrictions for Brisbane and Moreton Bay to apply from today; 28 September 2021.

You must wear a face mask outdoors when you are unable to stay 1.5 metres away from people unless:

• you are alone or with the members of your household;
• you are alone in your car or with the members of your household;
• you are eating or drinking;
• you are participating in strenuous exercise; or
• it is unsafe to wear a mask.

You must wear a face mask indoors, including workplaces unless:

• you can stay 1.5 metres away from others (only in your workplace);
• you are at your residence, and there is no one else there except people you live with;
• you are eating or drinking; or
• it is unsafe to wear a mask.

Dear Members,

It is challenging for those in states not impacted by harsh COVID restrictions to understand the financial, mental and physical impact of extended lockdowns. This is particularly true in Melbourne, where members are doing it really tough, and the state’s leaders are taking a “no back down” approach to business restrictions.

My thoughts, and I am sure the sentiments of all of those with the good fortune to be located in a “non-locked down state,”  are with those friends and colleagues who are forced to struggle during ongoing lockdowns.  Hopefully, we are seeing daily vaccination rates that will result in us returning to something more normal in the weeks ahead.

The following bulletin focuses on current conditions in Victoria, ACT and NSW, where Governments have recently announced their “roadmaps” out of COVID lockdown.

Victoria

Victorian members can rest assured that despite the highly challenging circumstances dealing with a Government that will not compromise on its approach to business lockdowns, ACWA has not backed down. Every day and at every opportunity, we contact politicians and public servants pushing car washing’s case to reopen.

ACWA has been advocating the safety and necessity of commercial car washing in Victoria for 18 months. However, the last couple of months has seen our tac change slightly by intensifying our focus on reopening contactless automatic car washes in the immediate term.

To this end, for many weeks, ACWA has been calling on the Chief Health Officer (and several other Government Ministers and Departments) to alter the Authorised Worker and Provider lists to, at a minimum, allow the operation of Automatic Car Washes.

In what appears to have been a slight change in attitude, ACWA yesterday received positive advice from the Office of the Chief Health Officer that the application is now “being considered”.

I also take this moment to acknowledge the work of ACWA Director Andrew Triant from Wash World for orchestrating today’s Herald Sun (page 8) editorial on the plight of car washing.

Recent Victorian Announcements

The Victorian Government has announced that there will be a modest easing of restrictions from 11:59 pm tonight (Tuesday 28 September 2021) as 80% of Victorians have now received a single COVID-19 vaccine dose.

This includes the Greater Geelong and Surf Coast municipalities exiting lockdown with their restrictions aligned with the rest of regional Victoria.

However, there will be no changes for business in metropolitan Melbourne.

The changes in metropolitan Melbourne include some minimal concessions to personal like including:

• Recreation activities outdoors permitted, e.g. golf, boating, tennis, etc
• Gatherings outdoors increased to up to 5 adults, from 2 households
• Increase in the maximum travel distance to 15 km when leaving home for shopping and exercise

Members can access full details of the Victorian Roadmap here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victorias-roadmap

New South Wales

Whilst it appears that many of our NSW based members have continued to operate during the lockdown, ACWA has been proactively politicking to have commercial car washing specified as an essential business. There have been approaches made to several ministers and government officials. Still, to date, we have not received confirmation, nor has there been the wholesale change to the health regulations for car washing we have called for.

NSW “Roadmap to Recovery”

At Sunday’s media conference, the Premier focused on the following:

• The 70% double dose rules that would apply from 11 October 2021
• Provided detail around the rules that will apply at 80% full vaccination
• Provided some detail of rules that will apply from 1 December 2021, at which point it will no longer be relevant whether an individual is vaccinated.

70% Double Dose 

The 70% double dose rules that will apply from 11 October 2021:

• Hospitality and retail venues can reopen – unvaccinated people will continue only be able to access critical retail.
• Employers must continue to allow people to work at home if possible.
• Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues
• Regional travel is not allowed unless permitted under current requirements
• A booking cap of 20 people per booking has been introduced for hospitality venues

80% Double Dose 

It gets a little complicated here with different rules for the vaccinated and unvaccinated and rules altering again from 1 December 2021.

ACWA suggests members check the fact sheet to familiarise themselves with the detail.

It can be found here  https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-09/FACT%20SHEET.pdf

We further encourage car wash operators to look specifically at:

• Work from home conditions
• Mask regulations
• Density limits

Australian Capital Territory 

The ACT’s “Pathway Forward” was also released yesterday.

The announcement by the Chief Minister outlined the Territory’s path out of COVID restrictions. He said that “subject to the public health risk remaining relatively stable in the next two weeks, the ACT’s lockdown will end at 11:59 pm on Thursday 14 October, triggering a transition to medium level public health measure”.

Further relaxation of conditions will take place on 29 October, which will allow for increased density limits, the reopening of retail and the restart of ticketed events.

Information relating to businesses is not fully detailed, and members are encouraged to look at the limited detail available on the Chief Minister’s press release https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/barr/2021/act-pathway-forward

Neil Fox, President

Australian Car Wash Association

Thanks to ACWA Director Andrew Triant for securing the following media coverage for Victorian car wash operators.

Members should also be aware that for many weeks ACWA has been calling on the Chief Health Officer (and several other Government Ministers and Departments) to alter the Authorised Worker and Provider lists to, at a minimum, allow the operation of Automatic Car Washes.

Yesterday, ACWA received positive advice from the Office of the Chief Health Officer that the application is being considered in line with future changes.

We have received several questions about changes recently announced by the Victorian Premier.  Unfortunately, there will be no changes for any businesses in metropolitan Melbourne.

We will continue to fight for change.

Victoria’s COVID Roadmap / City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire enter a 7-day Lockdown

Victorian COVID Roadmap Plan

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday released Victoria’s Roadmap for easing COVID restrictions.

Victoria’s 4-Phase Roadmap roll-out plan is based on the level of vaccinations of eligible people 16 years old and over.  The phases are listed below.  Please note the dates are indicative, and the community vaccination level triggers the change:

• Phase A – 80% single vaccination dose – 26 September 2021
• Phase B – 70% double vaccination dose – 26 October 2021
• Phase C – 80% double vaccination dose – 5 November 2021
• Phase D – 80% double vaccination dose (12+ years old) – 19 November 2021

As has become the norm for Government COVID communications, things are neither simple nor straightforward. The Premier’s detailed statement and explanatory attachments and plans can be found here https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/victorias-roadmap-delivering-national-plan .

Significantly, Mr Andrews has not yet proposed any immediate changes to the Victorian Authorised Providers list.  Indeed under the Government’s plan, Victoria’s beleaguered businesses appear to get no relief until 26 October 2021, when the state is predicted to achieve 70% double dose vaccination.

Further Regional Lockdowns

Yesterday, Mr Andrews also announced the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, and Mitchell Shire entered a 7-day lockdown from 11:59 pm last night (19 September).  Rules and restrictions for these regions are similar to the metro area and are explained in detail in the Premier’s press release here  https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/seven-day-lockdown-geelong-surf-coast-mitchell-shire

What is ACWA Doing, and How Can Members Help?

Members should be aware that ACWA has not and will not give up the fight for common sense, and we continue to advocate for car washing to be included explicitly as an Authorised Provider.  The current list of Approved Providers can be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-list

To this end, we have two submissions before the Department of Health Panel for consideration.  One of our submissions focuses specifically on getting our completely COVID safe automatic car washes authorised.  We believe that this submission has the support of several Government sectors.

ACWA asks for members to support our work by lobbying their local members, particularly those whose local members represent the Labour Party.  If you wish to be part of the solution, please let ACWA know, and we will provide dot points to help with your submission contact@acwa.net.au

In further news, ACWA Director Andrew Triant (Wash World) has taken a lead role in tackling media coverage of the unnecessary closure of car washing’s COVID safe businesses.  Keep your eyes on the Herald Sun and the Channel 9 News in the days ahead.  We are calling on passionate ACWA operators who have closed their sites to be involved on air onsite in Cheltenham this week (exact date and time to be confirmed) – please email your interest in attending and being involved to contact@acwa.net.au.

ACWA Members COVID Update for Victoria and New South Wales

New South Wales

The NSW government has announced changes to the local government areas (LGAs) in lockdown.

Effective from 1 PM today (Thursday 16 September 2021), 12 LGAs will exit lockdown.  These include: Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and Upper Hunter Shire. Rules applying to these areas can be located here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules

However, Albury and Lismore will go back into lockdown for at least a week from 6 PM tonight (Thursday, 16 September 2021). Business conditions are the same as those applied during the last lockdown; however, there are greater exercise freedoms for fully fascinated adults.  For further information, see the press release here  https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/changes-to-stay-at-home-orders-for-regional-nsw-local-government-areas

Victoria

With effect from 11.59 PM last night (15 September 2021), the Greater Shepparton left lockdown is now subject to Victoria’s regional COVID regulations, which can be located here https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels-covid-19

ACWA also advised yesterday that the Greater City of Ballarat has re-entered lockdown.  Restrictions for Ballarat are the same as those for metropolitan Melbourne except for the curfew.  DHHS regulations can be found here https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels-covid-19

At today’s media announcement, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews also announced some slight easing of restrictions in Victoria from tomorrow, Friday, 17 September.

Most of the business changes are relevant to the construction and building industries. However, there are some additional personal freedoms, including meeting with others outdoors under certain conditions.  Details of Mr Andrew’s announcement can be found here https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-freedoms-when-70-cent-first-dose-target-reached

Ballarat Enters Seven Day Lockdown – Shepparton Restrictions Lifted

In today’s press conference Daniel Andrews, the Premier of Victoria announced that Ballarat would go into a seven-day lockdown from 11.59 pm tonight until 11.59 pm on Wednesday 22 September 2021.

Ballarat will be subjected to the same rules as Melbourne; however, there will be no curfew in place.

At the same time, the government has announced the lockdown in Shepparton will be lifted from tonight after three days of no new cases in the town.

Unfortunately, the press release and information are not yet available online. The press release will be available to the public here when released https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/