Jabs passport trial to earn new freedoms

FULLY vaccinated Victorians could attend outdoor music and sporting events, pubs and restaurants within weeks under a vaccine passport trial.

It is understood the state government will soon reveal a range of small outdoor trials in regional Victoria.

Industry leaders have backed the pilot programs, revealing the digital passports would cement the state’s path out of the pandemic and could lead to significant crowds at the Spring Racing Carnival.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said he believed such events could safely operate once 70 per cent of the state’s population had received one dose, which would be later this month.

“There’s still a chance to hold significant crowds at the spring carnival. This is a race, so let’s use our race to signal that Victoria is open again,” he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday said the trials would provide an opportunity to ensure technology, processes and systems worked.

Mr Andrews also hinted that more restrictions could be scrapped from September 23, once 70 per cent of first doses had been carried out.

Victoria recorded 208 new locally acquired cases and one death on Friday.

A man in his 60s from Altona North became the third fatality in a number of days.

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