Bosses canât force COVID-19 jab, but âhave one for Australiaâ
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The first coronavirus vaccines will be rolled out on Monday, but bosses are being told they canât force employees to get a jab except in very limited circumstances.
Epidemiologist Marylouise McLaws said allowing unvaccinated workers in aged care facilities failed on morality grounds, and whether it was compulsory or not, people should âhave a jab for Australiaâ.
The first vaccinations will target frontline health and quarantine workers and the aged care sector.Â
Prime Minister Scott Morrison hinted international borders could reopen once Australiaâs vaccination program is completed â earlier than the 2022 date previously flagged by the government.
A survey has found most Australians are happy to receive a COVID vaccine, while businesses will be allowed to require customers to show proof of immunisation.
The regulator concluded that although employers have a duty to “eliminate or if not possible, minimise, so far as is reasonably practicable, the risk of exposure to Covid-19 in the workplace” that did not extend to requiring staff get vaccines.
That is because the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee has not recommended a vaccine be made mandatory in any industry, vaccines are not yet available and many industries may be “low risk”.
Several eminent labour law experts, including barrister Ian Neil and academic Andrew Stewart, have argued that employers’ ability to give staff “lawful and reasonable” directions means they can require staff to be vaccinated in some circumstances.
Australians could be banned from going to the PUB if they refuse the coronavirus vaccine dailymail.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymail.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.