10 questions the government must answer before businesses can reopen

Australia’s leading professional accounting body, CPA Australia, suggests the government needs to front up with some answers for businesses to be able to reopen with any certainty under the announced roadmap to reopening.

CPA believes without answers many businesses may remain closed or limit trading because of uncertainties around what they can and can’t do.

“Re-opening roadmaps are a positive development and we’re keen to see more of them,” said CPA Australia Chief Executive Andrew Hunter. “But so far they’ve raised many unanswered questions.

“Uncertainty creates risks that have potential costs and consequences. Each business must factor these into its decision on re-opening and how to trade. We’re aware of regional businesses which are choosing not to open now, even though they can, because the uncertainty is too great.

Why business owners need answers

Hunter said after speaking with CPA members and business owners, the organisation has created a list of questions about roadmaps which are causing the greatest uncertainty for businesses..

“Although businesses can obtain legal advice for some questions, this creates an undue burden, especially for small businesses, Hunter explained.

“Governments must answer these questions. They should not leave it to the private sector to muddle its way through. If they don’t provide answers, you’re likely to have as many different approaches as there are businesses in Australia.”

Hunter said CPA Australia will raise business owners concerns in upcoming meetings with state and territory governments.

“We’re confident answers will be provided eventually, but we want the flow of information expedited to set businesses up for a successful re-opening. It’s going to take time for businesses to meet new COVID-safe and vaccination requirements and adequately train their employees. The more time they have to work through these issues, the better prepared they’ll be.”

Why more information is needed for a successful reopening

We’re also calling on governments to ensure answers to roadmap questions are readily accessible.

“One of the problems we’re seeing, which has been a systemic issue since the pandemic began, is that information is held by numerous government departments, agencies and organisations.

“Businesses are chasing their tails trying to figure out where to go for answers. This increases the likelihood that mistakes will be made and there will be compliance breaches.

“Ideally, we’d like each state and territory to develop a one stop shop of detailed roadmap answers for businesses, Hunter said.

The 10 questions

Businesses and their customers

Once lockdown restrictions ease, what businesses and venues will be required to deny entry or in-person services to unvaccinated people?
Other than businesses required to serve vaccinated people only, can any other businesses deny entry or in-person services to unvaccinated people?
Can businesses request information on the vaccination status of a customer before allowing them entry or providing services?
If a person has a medical exemption from being vaccinated, can the business ask for proof, and is the person required to provide it to gain entry or services?

Businesses and their employees

Can businesses require employees and contractors to undertake a rapid antigen test immediately before starting a shift or providing in-person services?
If vaccination is mandated for an industry, can the business terminate or stand down employees who refuse to be vaccinated, and does this change if vaccination is not mandated for an industry?
Can businesses request evidence of an employee’s or contractor’s vaccination status before allowing them into the workplace?
Once the 80 per cent fully vaccinated level is reached, if individual employees are required to quarantine, can the business stand them down and, if so, will government financial support be available to these employees?

Managing future closures

Once the 80 per cent fully vaccinated level is reached, if an employee, contractor or customer of a business is a confirmed COVID case, will all close contacts of the infected person need to quarantine for 14 days?
If a business is required by government to close due to a targeted lockdown, or quarantining of employees or contractors who are close contacts, and this significantly disrupts turnover, what financial support will be available to that business?

Want more? Get the latest coronavirus news and updates straight to your inbox! Follow Kochie’s Business Builders on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.