On Monday 13 September, the Treasurer flagged two important initiatives for our industry.  To give you a greater insight into our work, we have shared below the information we gained from our meeting with the Treasurer on Sunday night:

1. A priority vaccination access program for building and construction workers. On your behalf, MBV worked tirelessly over the weekend with the Premier’s Private Office to secure priority vaccination access for our industry – see further details below.

2. An enforcement blitz of building and construction sites starting today (Monday 13 September 2021). Directed by the Department of Justice and Community Safety, Authorised Officers and WorkSafe Inspectors will undertake compliance checks across the building and construction industry.  It is expected that Victorian Building Authority officers will join the blitz later this week, using Public Health and Welling powers. This blitz will specifically target areas of our industry that have been identified as failing COVIDSafe requirements. Health data will be used to visit to locations where high rates of transmission are occurring.

A zero-tolerance approach will be taken by the Victorian Government and prohibition notices will be issued where appropriate.

The blitz will be supported by additional engagement with our industry, and there will be a specific focus on small to medium size building and construction businesses. It is hoped that this engagement will also further support sub-contractors in understanding their obligations under the CHO Directions.

This blitz will run every day for the next four weeks and will be guided by feedback from our industry. 

Please ensure that you are following the rules - and remain vigilant to help stop the spread of the Delta variant and keep our industry open. We still believe that slow work is better than no work!

MBV supports the compliance checks and enforcement measures being undertaken by the Victorian Government.  It is vital that those not doing the right thing are held to account as they risk our whole industry being completely shut down. This risk is real and ever present.

We seek your urgent co-operation to ensure that our Industry COVID-19 guidelines are implemented and strictly adhered to, with immediate effect.

As mentioned above, MBV worked tirelessly over the weekend with the Premier’s Private Office to secure priority vaccination access for our industry.  This is a good win for our members and our sector.

However, taking advantage of priority access to vaccinations is now key.

To increase vaccination coverage among our industry’s workers, the Victorian Government will provide Incolink with a small supply of Pfizer and an unlimited supply of AstraZeneca. This will further support Incolink’s on-site COVID-19 building and construction vaccination program. MBV is also working with the Premier’s Private Office and Incolink on the development of drive-in vaccination hubs for our industry.

In addition, the Victorian Government will open the doors of four major vaccination centres to walk-ins without a booking, every day from today until 26 September 2021.  Details are as follows:

  • There will be a range of priority booked, walk-ins and general appointments available to those working in the building and construction industry. 
  • Verbal attestation is all that is required for people who are building and construction workers.  
  • Building and construction workers aged 60 years and over will be offered AstraZeneca. Workers aged under 60 years will be offered Pfizer.  
  • Building and construction workers are defined as workers at a construction site, including apprentices and workers who frequently visit. A construction site is a work premises, residential, commercial or government at which civil works, building or construction activities take place. 

 

Access to priority Pfizer appointments 

  • 20,000 priority Pfizer appointments made available to the building and construction sector. Priority Pfizer appointments are available for workers aged under 60 years of age.
  • Building and construction workers will be able to book from Monday 13 September – Friday 17 September.  
  • Appointments are available from Monday 13 September – Sunday 19 September.  
  • Appointments can be made by calling the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398. 
  • Family members of workers are not eligible for priority appointments. Those aged 12 and over can access a general appointment. 



Walk-ins at vaccination centres 

Dedicated walk-in access dates and times are being opened for building and construction workers at the following vaccination centres:

 

From Monday 13 through Sunday 26 September –

- Eagle Stadium, Wyndham in-person vaccination clinic (8am–11am daily and 5pm–6pm on Thurs and Fri)

- Melton (former Bunnings) in-person vaccination clinic (8am–11am daily and 5pm–6pm on Thurs and Fri)

- Ford Complex, Campbellfield in-person vaccination clinic (8am–11am and 5pm-8pm daily)

- Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital (8am–11am and 5pm-8pm daily)

- Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre each afternoon from 3pm (AstraZeneca only)

Who is eligible?

Anyone who works at a site where civil works, building or construction activities take place, including contractors and architects working on site, will be eligible. It’s important to remember that any Victorian, including building and construction workers, can also book to get vaccinated with their local GP or selected pharmacists across the state.  

Regional areas

Barwon Health has asked MBV to ensure that our members in the Geelong area know that they can access the building and construction vaccination blitz clinics at Geelong's Community Vaccination Hub in Norlane.

Appointments must be pre-booked. To make a booking, go to https://bit.ly/35TpSGl or phone 1800 675 398.

Location: 
2-30 North Shore Road, Norlane 3214 (old Ford factory)
Hours: 8.30am - 3.30pm 7 days a week

We will provide more information as it becomes available.