Businesses need to be incentivised to comply with strict new contact tracing rules
Financially and emotionally exhausted businesses in the wake of COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions need to be incentivised to help manage contact tracing obligations instead of threatened with fines.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) is calling for support for COVID-19 impacted businesses to be incentivised and rewarded to contribute to improving contract tracing abilities.
Under new mandatory contact tracing obligations, many businesses will face fines if they don’t comply with new rules coming into force from Friday.
CCIQ Policy and Advocacy Manager Cherie Josephson says threatening business with fines if they are caught not meeting strict rules adds yet another layer of anxiety and distress in an already struggling business sector.
“While we acknowledge the importance of improving contact tracing abilities to help the business and wider economy to avoid future lockdowns and get back to business sooner, it’s essential business owners are supported and encouraged to comply with changing rules instead of being punished,” Ms Josephson said.
“We know these businesses are adaptable and willing to do their part to help broader recovery – they measure square meters and manage capacity limits, they clean touch points and maintain new hygiene standards and they do it all from behind a mask while still trying to keep their doors open and business running.
“To threaten these businesses, who have already adapted to running a business during a pandemic, with fines if they don’t police every single customer, client, patient or person who enters their business does little to incentivise them or support their ongoing efforts in contributing to the wider sector’s recovery.
“These businesses are already financially and emotionally exhausted and they need to have the opportunity and resources extended to them to help them meet even more expectations.
"An incentive for stepping up and playing their part would be being afforded clarity on what those efforts mean for future lockdown and business restrictions decision making, for example if capacity limits could be increased.
"It could also mean certainty of future support through those disruptions to trade through a hotspot recovery package to compensate for the costs business are faced with when they are forced to close due to lockdowns."
New contact tracing rules from July 9 include shopping centres and supermarkets, beauty and personal care services and venues that attract large crowds, while other industries were already required to follow contact tracing protocols.
Ms Josephson said businesses needed to have access to clear, concise information about their contact tracing obligations to avoid being fined for non-compliance.
“Empowering businesses with clear information as well as opportunities to be rewarded for playing their part is critical for improving certainty for impacted businesses and can individually support the wider business community on the journey back to business as usual,” Ms Josephson said.
"Today we're seeking more clarity on who will be ultimately accountable for these contact tracing directives in Queensland businesses and where the responsibility lies for business’ compliance.”