Page 1306 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 June 2020
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The road map also provides details about future changes in stage 3, in July and beyond. Our recovery plan reflects the nationally agreed 3 step framework for a CovidSafe Australia, which each jurisdiction is moving through at a different pace, reflecting their current public health situation and conditions and informed by risk assessment and changing epidemiology.
The road map allows sufficient time between each stage of three weeks to provide for decision checkpoints to enable us to monitor and assess the public health impacts before any final decisions on further easing are made, and to ensure the safety of the community before we move to the next stage.
We know that the changes to restrictions can leave questions about what is and is not allowed, and we have continued to work closely with community and business stakeholders during this transition. As part of this, an Access Canberra business liaison line was established, available on 6205 0900. Between 20 March and 10 June, it provided support and advice to more than 1,200 callers. This has continued over the past week as businesses have asked varied questions about the support measures in place and the easing of restrictions.
Access Canberra is also active in providing on-the-ground and in-business advice and information through its proactive compliance activities. More than 3,600 proactive business inspections and engagements have been undertaken since the first public health direction was notified. Teams of inspectors have worked across weekends, public holidays and evenings to support businesses and provide information at a time that works best for them.
These engagements have provided another opportunity for businesses to ask questions, seek clarification and get advice on the restrictions specific to their business, and are part of Access Canberra’s educative approach to supporting business compliance and ensuring community safety. No businesses have been fined or penalised for non-compliance with a public health direction. Inspectors provide information and advice, as well as fact sheets and information during visits, while also checking that businesses are compliant.
Teams that have been on the ground talking to businesses have reported that business sentiment overall has been supportive of a staged approach to lifting restrictions because the safety of the community and their staff is of paramount consideration for them, even though COVID-19 has impacted their operations. Access Canberra advises that one of the questions businesses most regularly ask at visits is: “How can I support my staff and community better?” It is great to see that businesses are committed to helping protect our community. This is also reflected in the correspondence I receive, where businesses are clearly seeking advice on how to do the right thing.
Access Canberra has also worked to implement practical measures to support businesses as they adjust their business models in response to COVID-19, such as through the introduction of free 15-minute parking to support takeaway pick-up near businesses and the introduction of free commercial liquor permits to facilitate takeaway for on-licences, with 119 businesses benefiting from this.
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