Some business owners and retail employees have told of being "quite concerned" about enforcing mask rules within their premises - with a few even receiving verbal abuse, Barwon MP Roy Butler reports.
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The fitted face coverings are required in all indoor non-residential settings across NSW until at least Friday as the state continues to battle its latest COVID outbreak.
Part of a suite of measures put in place on June 26 for at least 14 days, which also included a snap lockdown for Greater Sydney and neighbouring regions, police have issued hundreds of $200 fines to individuals for failing to comply in the past week.
The policy is posing challenges to some business owners and their workers within his western NSW electorate as they seek to do the right thing, Mr Butler reports.
"... certainly business owners and retail employees have been in touch with me quite concerned about enforcing these rules," he said.
"A few of them have described verbal abuse they've received."
A few of them have described verbal abuse they've received.
- Barwon MP Roy Butler
Mr Butler, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party member, had a stern message for those unleashing on business owners and employees.
"I'd say to the people mouthing off to staff, check yourself, these people didn't ask for these rules and they're only trying to do what the law requires of them," he said.
The Daily Liberal asked Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders to provide advice about if a business could be fined if its customer refused to wear a mask.
The direction to wear a face mask or fitted face covering in clause 17 of the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021 generally only applied to the individual person not the business, Mr Saunders said.
"If a person is stopped by a regulatory officer in a setting where face masks are mandatory, the officer will ask them whether they have a lawful reason for not wearing a face mask.
"Officers will only issue a penalty notice if a person is clearly not wearing a mask without a lawful reason.
"We know that some community members have illnesses, conditions and/or disabilities that makes wearing a mask difficult or unsuitable.
"If a person has a condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, they may wish to ask a registered health practitioner or disability care provider to issue a letter confirming this; however, this is not a requirement under the order.
"While the onus to comply with the Public Health Order is on the individual, businesses are encouraged to ensure all staff and visitors are abiding by the health order.
So far our region has been lucky enough to avoid being touched by the latest COVID outbreak.
- Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders
"So far our region has been lucky enough to avoid being touched by the latest COVID outbreak.
"We want to keep it that way.
"When used correctly, masks are an important addition in our fight against COVID-19. "Wearing a mask helps protect other people and reduces the chance that an infected person will pass on the virus to others.
"That includes the most vulnerable in our community."
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA), the union for retail, fast food, warehouse and online retail workers has also received reports of its members across Australia bearing the brunt of customer reaction to COVID measures.
"The SDA is aware of an upsurge in incidents of customer abuse and aggression, particularly directed at junior staff, in the wake of lockdowns across the country," SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer said.
"The union understands the need for enhanced precautions in light of increased risk of infection.
"However, it is no excuse for shoppers to take out their misplaced frustrations on retail workers.
"Check your behaviour before you check in."
A recent SDA survey of 2300 retail workers revealed nearly 90 per cent (87.92 per cent) reported being subject to verbal abuse, one-quarter of them every week.
Fully one in five respondents reported being coughed or spat on during COVID-19, the SDA said.