Hospitality venues and hairdressers not using the Service NSW app for customer check-ins will be whacked with fines and closures under harsh penalties being introduced on New Year’s Day.
The NSW government will make it mandatory for those businesses to use the Service NSW application in an effort to assist COVID-19 community tracing.
Breaking the law (businesses) will attract a fine of $ 5000 and closure for a week, while repeated offenders may be closed for a month.
The Changes
Currently, NSW businesses can use multiple registration systems, but from January 1 that will start to change.
The government will look to expand this rule to other industries over time by 2021.
The government last week reported that more than 42,000 businesses had used the Service NSW QR code at least and that 1.8 million customers had already used the Service NSW application to secure COVID-safe access.
Violation And Penalties
Victor Dominello, Minister of Customer Service – the department responsible for rolling out the application – said the country’s government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy.
“Only hotels and hospitality venues and hairdressers will be required to use the NSW QR government’s Service NSW QR code to record access to their premises from January 1, 2021,” Mr. Dominello told NCA NewsWire.
“Non-compliance is easy to detect and won’t be tolerated. There will be no ifs or buts. Penalties include $5000 on-the-spot fines, followed by a week’s closure and month’s closure if problems continue.
“The consequences of non-compliance and negligence when it comes to keeping electronic records are critical – they cost lives and end jobs.”
This comes after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Monday urged businesses to download and use the program in their secure COVID programs, stressing that the download would take “three to four minutes”.
Mr Dominello said the government would make use of the app.
“Government inspectors regularly visit places to check that the rules are being followed and that they are enforcing them,” he said. “The government’s NSW Service NSW QR code is fast, free, accurate and confidential.
“The answer we have received from the media is that the NSW QR Service code is the most effective in helping NSW Health to protect the public.
“It only takes minutes for customers to download the Service NSW application and seconds for businesses to check, which helps keep people safe and the economy open.”
Mr Dominello has also moved on to alleviate fears that customer privacy may be misused.
“Personal information obtained by businesses will be kept secure by the government and will only be used by NSW Health in the event of an outbreak. It will be destroyed in 28 days, ”he said.
Mr Hazzard last week expressed concern at reports of people being “caught” using fake names and fake phone numbers when visiting places.
“This is a global COVID epidemic. And to think that it is good to call yourself Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse is almost as stupid as you get. So that must end, ”he said.
