Loading
The US allows people fully immunised with either US-approved jabs or vaccines authorised for emergency use by the World Health Organisation, including the AstraZeneca vaccine, to self-monitor for symptoms and get tested a few days after entering the country. Those without recognised vaccines must quarantine for a week.
A spokesman for cabinet minister Stuart Robert said more details about Australia’s plan would be released shortly.
“The Morrison government continues to work towards vaccine assurance standards that will be one element of enabling vaccinated Australians to move and travel more freely,” he said.
The Prime Minister said home quarantine was also key.
“Home quarantine needs to be at scale and needs to be tested and ready, and that’s what’s happening now, and that’s what I’ll continue to push to open the country up because that’s what enables the national plan,” he said in a Sky News interview.
“I’ll be following up last Friday’s meeting with the premiers, writing them looking to get some timetables about their introduction of home quarantine, but also following up this issue of the integration of our technology that can enable fully vaccinated theatres, fully vaccinated events.”
Earlier this week, NSW Digital Minister Victor Dominello announced the state would begin testing a seamless proof of vaccination and check-in process through the Service NSW app later this month.
Victoria is also considering a proof of vaccination trial in regional areas, with Victoria’s Industry Support Minister Martin Pakula confirming the government is working to integrate the vaccination certificate with the Services Victoria app.
The Prime Minister said using the QR-code apps to show proof of vaccination would be easy for people and businesses.
Loading
“You just go in like you normally do right now, and it will show whether you’re vaccinated or not,” he said in a Sky News interview on Tuesday.
“Now for premises that are allowing unvaccinated people in, it also helps us because when they log in, and we know they are unvaccinated, they’re the first people we’re going to call for their safety.”
But not all states and territories are jumping to add vaccine certificates to check-in apps.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the territory’s app – which is also being used in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Tasmania – can’t be as easily updated to include vaccination status.
Loading
“It is not an identity verification app, and so there’s an open question about whether you can link a verified identity document to an app you just put your name and mobile phone number in,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Mr Barr said the territory was also reluctant to impose separate arrangements for vaccinated and unvaccinated people before everyone had been able to get the jab.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said national cabinet was having “detailed discussions” about streamlining proof of vaccination and QR code apps.
“We are working with the Commonwealth about how that would work in terms of protecting the privacy, and that is something that I would like to see,” she said.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
