Federal Sports Minster Richard Colbeck has urged people to download the CovidSafe app, saying it’s the quickest way fans will be allowed back into sporting stadiums.
The Government-endorsed app has the ability to quickly alert those who have come into contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Minister Colbeck said now the framework for a return to community and professional sport has been publicly released, attention would naturally turn to the timeline for re-opening sporting events to fans.
“It’s probably the next stage in the discussion,” Colbeck said on Dwayne’s World.
“That’s going to be the focus for the states, once we start to see some of the more stringent social gathering exercises be released – and I know those conversations are being had right now – then it will be judged on what the health advice is coming to the national cabinet at that time.
“We all know what a huge difference in atmosphere crowds makes and it’ll also be dependant now on we’re doing now to limit community spread.
“The strength in testing we’re doing in the community is important and our capacity to trace test is also very very important. Our capacity to be able to open up sport for crowds will be dependant on our capacity to track and trace and then quarantine community spread.
“That’s been one of the things that has been really concerning to us in recent times – having the app to facilitate (tracing positive tests) quickly will be important in our capacity to open up sport to crowds.
“The faster we have the capacity to have a strong level of testing and then able to trace track and quarantine the positive cases will make it easier for us to open up the economy.”