Once the state reaches its 70 per cent vaccination target, the NSW government has promised greater freedoms for people who have received both doses of the vaccine or those who have been declared medically exempt.

Shellharbour City Council mayor Marianne Saliba said the proposal, that would require residents’ vaccination status’ to be checked, was inequitable.

“Can you imagine as a council if we started saying to people, ‘You can’t come to our library because you’re not vaccinated, or you can’t attend this event, or you can’t use these facilities,'” Councillor Saliba said.

“Everyone is a ratepayer whether they’re vaccinated or not … and they deserve to be treated as equals.