Australians could be banned from concerts, plays and festivals unless they get vaccinated - as AFL considers forcing fans to get jabbed after MCG super-spreader sparked lockdown
- 'No jab, no entry policy' to venues being pushed by arts, music and event figures
- Vaccine passports could be implemented for events to save shrinking industry
- Australian music industry suffered a $700 million loss last year due to Covid-19
- Scott Morrison to introduce digital vaccine certificate rollout, similar to France
- Last week PM said states will have power to enforce vaccination rules on venues
Unvaccinated Australians could be banned from attending arts events including plays, concerts, and music festivals to stop super-spreading.
Prominent arts and music figures are pushing for a 'no jab, no entry' policy in an effort save one of the industries hardest hit by the pandemic.
Vaccine passports could be trialled and immediately introduced as soon as enough of the population has the jab to make it viable.
Promoters Live Nation, Chugg Entertainment and Andrew Macmanus, key industry groups, theatre giant Marriner Group, and bar tsar James Young are some of the prominent figures backing the policy.
Unvaccinated Australians could be denied entry to concerts, theatres, festivals and AFL games
They argue vaccine passports are essential for the survival of the music and arts industry after theatre and music venues took the biggest hit during Melbourne's five lockdowns, with bans on crowds and audiences to continue for another fortnight.
Vaccine passports, which are already implemented in many countries overseas, grant an entry pass for people who can prove they have been vaccinated.
Live Nation Asia-Pacific president Roger Field said the 'no jab, no entry' policy has proven 'very effective' overseas.
'We need to work with government and start trialling these and other initiatives here in order for the industry to get back on its feet,' he told the Herald Sun.
Australian music pioneer Michael Chugg believes vaccination is the only way out of the pandemic for an industry trying to stay afloat as tours face weekly cancellations or rescheduling.
'Vaccine passports need to happen,' he said.
A 'no jab, no entry' policy could be introduced in an effort to save the arts industry which has suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic
'Unless everyone comes together on this, we're just going keep dealing with this c**p.'
The Australian music industry suffered a $700 million loss last year, shrinking by 39 per cent, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
With vaccinations being offered to more Australians, some residents may be denied access to certain venues and services if they are unvaccinated.
Prominent music promoter Andrew Macmanus told The Herald Sun he also supported the idea of the vaccine passport, suggesting those who disagree 'don’t come to the concert. Stand outside'.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews already flagged discussing greater freedoms for residents, including access to major events, if they are fully vaccinated.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also welcomed the idea by working to roll out a digital vaccine certificate, last week announcing he was granting states the power to enforce vaccination rules on venues.
Premier Daniel Andrews has flagged discussions surrounding whether only vaccinated AFL fans can attend matches as a wider initiative to incentivise getting the jab
Unvaccinated sport fans could also be banned from attending matches as stadiums become super-spreader events sparking Covid outbreaks.
Mr Andrews said vaccinated fans being able to attend games would be part of a wider initiative to incentivise people to get the jab.
'Once we've got many, many more people with the jab, we can then have a discussion about what that might mean for them, freedom of movement, changes that deal with some of the risks we face,' he said.
The MCG become a high-risk exposure site with thousands of people at risk after a fan infected with the highly contagious Delta strain watched an AFL game.
The supporter then took the virus to Phillip Island in regional Victoria, wreaking havoc on the local community.
They said 'everything is on the table' as far as bringing in vaccination requirements for anyone attending sporting events in the future, while negative tests before game day are also being discussed.
