The government has backed a proposal for vaccination certificates that will allow for quarantine-free international travel, although these vaccination certificates might also end up being mandatory for domestic travel.
This information was disclosed by Sydney Morning Herald who confirmed that the process will involve linking vaccination status on MyGov accounts, to a new certificate system.
For international travel, the system will work by scanning a QR code and then logging onto your government profile to show proof of your vaccination.
However, while certificates will be a necessity for quarantine-free international travel, what’s currently in contention is whether they’ll be put into use for domestic travel as well.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants the vaccine certificates to also be required for domestic travel, under the presumption that this will encourage Australian’s to get vaccinated faster.
Mr Morrison has touted an 80% as the magic number to end lockdowns after releasing new modelling from the Doherty Institute and believes requiring vaccination passports for domestic travelling will help Australia reach this number faster.
Many members of the coalition oppose this and the division doesn’t end there. Some of those who do support the certificates for both international and domestic travel are rather arguing they want to ensure the certificates are ruled out as necessary for essential activities such as visiting the supermarket.
Coalition MPs including Nationals MP George Christensen and Liberal Senators Eric Abetz, Rennick and Alex Antic have publicly opposed the requiring of vaccine certificates for domestic travel.
Mr Antic said he was “concerned that a domestic COVID vaccine passport will lead to discrimination against Australians and create a two-tiered society.”
“Australians should not be denied access to services on the basis of their willingness to undergo a medical procedure. This is an incredibly slippery slope and may well set a precedent for further discrimination in the future.”
Precedent has been set internationally with places such as Britain and France have begun extending their equivalent of vaccine passports to sport events, nightclubs and tourist attractions.
In France venues that fit more than 50 people require a check in with your vaccine passport and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is promising vaccination proof as a condition for entry into venues “where large crowds gather” by the end of September.
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