INDUSTRY NEWS
19
NATIONAL
COVID-19 Vaccinations – join ‘The Vaccination Movement’ On the 18th August 2021, MGA TMA attended a meeting convened by Attorney General Michaelia Cash and attended by key members of her team as well as the Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd, Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker, Federal Treasury and various Industry Association Leaders and Union bosses to discuss a number of matters concerning vaccinations in the workplace. Some industry cohorts were advocating for mandatory vaccinations to be regulated by the Federal Government, and the Unions wanted the Government to regulate employers to give employees paid time off to obtain a vaccination. Attorney General Cash was adamant that the Government would not support or mandate either suggestion. In response to the growing “no jab, no job” debate, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has twice ruled out extending the mandates to other workplaces. ‘There are already existing powers that employers have, both in terms of lawful directions, reasonable directions, to their employees’. Attorney General Cash said, ‘It is up to each employer to engage with their staff and team members in a collaborative and proportionate manner to encourage a safe work place, shopping space and generally to foster the good health of the community in which we live. A vaccinated community is vital if we are to open our businesses and communities. It is up to employers to decide whether it is appropriate to allow staff and team members to get vaccinated during work time. Minister Cash offered that most employers either do this or consider this option to have their teams quickly vaccinated.
Fed AG Michaelia Cash Workplace Vax Round Table 18 Aug 21
The outcomes of the discussions were that employers avoid conflict in the workplace by not mandating the COVID-19 vaccine but to encourage and give team members reason for the benefits of being vaccinated both from a personal and community point of view.
a safe workplace and without fear of liability. Finally, Minister Cash was encouraged by all those present to embark upon a Public Health Campaign to help educate, inform and promote the benefits of having a vaccination as soon as possible.
Access to vaccines was also raised as an issue in the short term but should be no issue in the medium term, with millions of doses becoming available in all states and territories.
MGA strongly encourages all Members and their staff and team members to “get vaccinated” as soon as possible by joining The Vaccination Movement.
Both Michelle Baxter, CEO of Safe Work Australia and Sandra Parker, the FWO, ensured that there would not be any risk if all employers were COVID compliant with the safe work and employment guidelines. They could be confident of
On behalf of MGA’s Board of Directors, MGA wishes to strongly encourage all Members and your team of workers around Australia to protect themselves from the COVID-19 disease by immediately vaccinating.
