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The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia has advised that they shifting their lobbying and advocacy focus onto accelerating the vaccination process.

In a statement released today, EEAA president Spiro Anemogiannisis asked for “all the other like-minded associations and the new splinter groups to also start campaigning on this front because it is the only way to get out of this mess we are in.

“Our way out as an industry is vaccinations, not continually debating event restrictions etc. with governments who inevitably defer to Health Officials. We have seen that the lifting of restrictions can be brought back instantly if needed.”

The EEAA has been active throughout the second half of 2020 and into 2021 in their lobbying and advocating at all levels of government and health regarding unfair restrictions as well as asking for specific financial assistance on behalf of their members and industry.

Anemogiannisis advises “eventually restrictions were belatedly peeled back at various times in each state, and the federal government launched the Business Events Grant Scheme.

“These changes saw a gradual return of our domestic events in the first half of this year but with Greater Sydney lockdown and new border restrictions, we are back to where we were this time last year.

“We need a different narrative. Now is the time to work together and lobby the government to fast track the vaccinations as a way out of this ‘stop start’.”

EEAA highlight that Singapore has just announced they are targeting 70% of their population to be vaccinated by August and as a result  will be lifting all restrictions, including borders and stop reporting daily COVID numbers. They will revert to reporting the hospital admissions as per usual with their objective being to run fully vaccinated events in the last quarter this year.

Anemogiannisis comments “at least they have a plan – we need our government to start the promotional campaign – we should have vaccination ads and promotions during all our sporting events, example the State of Origin etc.

“When Premiers and CMOs announce lockdowns and restrictions they should also add ‘if we all want to not have these lockdowns every time there is an outbreak please get vaccinated’. It is almost criminal that only a third of aged care workers are vaccinated. We only need 70% of the eligible population to be vaccinated according to the experts.

“Given the year we are having the EEAA has also decided that it is not appropriate to have our Awards this year. Our Members and the industry are doing it tough so we are planning a different type of end-of-year event where we all come together to celebrate the end of 2021 and look forward to something better.”

Image: EEAA President Spiro Anemogiannisis

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