Sydney radio host Ben Fordham has unloaded on NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and the state government following renewed calls from businesses to scrap Covid restrictions.
Business NSW chief executive Daniel Hunter told the Herald Sun on Monday the mandatory seven-day isolation period for close contacts should end so healthy workers are not forced to isolate unnecessarily.
It is a view Fordham agreed with on his 2GB radio show, saying some “common sense” was needed.
“I think everyone can sense the shift in the community … people are well and truly over Covid. In particular the rules and the restrictions,” Fordham said.
“The public’s done the heavy lifting and it’s time to move forward. This means the last of the restrictions have to come to an end.
“We need to do something about the seven-day isolation rules for close contacts.”
Fordham laid blame with the state’s leader, demanding action after Mr Perrottet had previously said “we’re working towards a system where if you’re sick you stay home, otherwise you go to work”.
“The only person who can do it is the NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet,” Fordham said.
“Dominic Perrottet assured us on April 9 he was reviewing the close contact isolation rules.
“That was 10 days ago, Premier, what are you waiting for? Release the handbrake and get the place moving again.”
Business NSW wants household contacts to do daily rapid antigen tests and be allowed to go to work if they are negative, instead of being forced to isolate.
Worker shortages in the hospitality industry and small businesses are currently being seen as a result of the current rules, with Fordham saying it needs to end.
“We know why this has to happen, there are crippling worker shortages all over Sydney,” he said.
“Restaurant owners are stretched thing, venues can’t operate at full capacity, casual staff are working up to 60 hours a week.”
But Fordham’s attack went beyond just the Premier, saying the public should not “hold too much faith” in other leaders like Treasurer Matt Kean and Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
“I’d love to know where the NSW Treasurer Matt Kean is on all of this. He’s boasting today about the economy bouncing back after Omicron,” Fordham said.
“Matt have you set foot in a small business recently? They’re treading water.”
Fordham also had similar criticisms for Mr Hazzard.
“Don’t expect the Health Minister Brad Hazzard to get involved, he’s captured by health bureaucrats,” he said.
“He recently refused to scrap final Covid restrictions because he said case numbers might be 50 per cent higher than what’s being reported because people aren’t testing anymore.
“They’re not testing anymore because they’ve learnt to live with the virus Brad and they’re using common sense. If they’re sick, they get tested and stay home.”
Both Mr Perrottet and Mr Hazzard have both expressed a desire to ease the state’s close contact rules, but they want to do it in combination with Victoria.
“Whatever decisions are beinxjmtzywg considered they will be made only after consultation with the Victorian Government to ensure coordination between the two major states,” a spokesperson for Mr Hazzard said earlier this month.
The spokesperson also said Covid cases had potentially plateaued across NSW and may do so for longer than anticipated.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has recommended removing seven days of isolation for close contacts, but only after the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave.
