❓ The Premier outlines the government's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, detailing which sectors are affected and the timelines for vaccination. The policy aims to protect vulnerable people, ensure industries can operate, and safeguard the health of Western Australians.
AnsweredQoN 626Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY
626. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's
safe and proportionate approach to managing the risk of COVID-19 in the
community. Can the Premier update the house on the government's
mandatory vaccination policy and outline what it will mean for businesses and
workers in Western Australia?
626. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Premier:
I refer to the state government's
safe and proportionate approach to managing the risk of COVID-19 in the
community. Can the Premier update the house on the government's
mandatory vaccination policy and outline what it will mean for businesses and
workers in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Today we have announced a big
step forward in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is true that
we are already on track to rapidly increase our vaccination rate in Western Australia, but today's announcement
should increase that as well. By the end of this week, we expect that we will
have 60 per cent of the eligible population—that is, people over 12 years
of age—fully vaccinated in Western Australia, which is a terrific
outcome. Other states are measuring people over 16 years of age; we are measuring
people over 12 years of age. This is a great achievement by our health
professionals and the Western Australian community, considering the supply
issues and geographic challenges in Western Australia. However, the threat of
COVID is not going away. We need to have as many people vaccinated as possible.
Today
we have announced an overarching mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. This
policy strengthens the current mandates. It covers the next group of industries
required to be mandated across the state. We estimate that it will account for about 75 per cent of the Western Australian
workforce. This policy is based on the public health risk and is proportionate
and reasonable. The first group of people that will be required to have their
first vaccine by 1 December and then be fully vaccinated by the end of the year
includes resource workers, healthcare workers, community care workers, cross-border freight workers, the whole
of the WA Police Force, Department of Fire and Emergency Services workers, corrective services workers, those who
work in Aboriginal communities, and abattoir and meat processing workers. The
second group that will be required to have its first vaccine by the end of this
year and be fully vaccinated by the
end of January next year includes those people who work in supermarkets,
grocery stores, bakeries, petrol stations , hardware stores, all of hospitality, the building and construction
industries, child care and day care, hotels and other accommodation, financial
institutions and schools—although people in schools will be required to
be vaccinated before they start school next year. The third group relates to a lockdown,
and if there is a lockdown, these people will be required to have had two
doses. They are people who work in bottle shops; newsagents; pet stores;
wholesalers; government or local government services, when working from home is
not possible; repair services and roadside assistance; forestry; primary
industries; factories; manufacturing, fabrication and production; and all
members of the Western Australian Parliament and their staff. It is very
important that we set a good example. This is a pretty unusual measure that we
have taken today—unprecedented in our lifetime—but it is very
important that we do everything we can to protect the vulnerable, to make sure
that our industries can continue to operate and to protect the health of Western
Australians across the board. I urge all Western Australians to get vaccinated
as soon as they possibly can.
thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Today we have announced a big
step forward in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is true that
we are already on track to rapidly increase our vaccination rate in Western Australia, but today's announcement
should increase that as well. By the end of this week, we expect that we will
have 60 per cent of the eligible population—that is, people over 12 years
of age—fully vaccinated in Western Australia, which is a terrific
outcome. Other states are measuring people over 16 years of age; we are measuring
people over 12 years of age. This is a great achievement by our health
professionals and the Western Australian community, considering the supply
issues and geographic challenges in Western Australia. However, the threat of
COVID is not going away. We need to have as many people vaccinated as possible.
Today
we have announced an overarching mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. This
policy strengthens the current mandates. It covers the next group of industries
required to be mandated across the state. We estimate that it will account for about 75 per cent of the Western Australian
workforce. This policy is based on the public health risk and is proportionate
and reasonable. The first group of people that will be required to have their
first vaccine by 1 December and then be fully vaccinated by the end of the year
includes resource workers, healthcare workers, community care workers, cross-border freight workers, the whole
of the WA Police Force, Department of Fire and Emergency Services workers, corrective services workers, those who
work in Aboriginal communities, and abattoir and meat processing workers. The
second group that will be required to have its first vaccine by the end of this
year and be fully vaccinated by the
end of January next year includes those people who work in supermarkets,
grocery stores, bakeries, petrol stations , hardware stores, all of hospitality, the building and construction
industries, child care and day care, hotels and other accommodation, financial
institutions and schools—although people in schools will be required to
be vaccinated before they start school next year. The third group relates to a lockdown,
and if there is a lockdown, these people will be required to have had two
doses. They are people who work in bottle shops; newsagents; pet stores;
wholesalers; government or local government services, when working from home is
not possible; repair services and roadside assistance; forestry; primary
industries; factories; manufacturing, fabrication and production; and all
members of the Western Australian Parliament and their staff. It is very
important that we set a good example. This is a pretty unusual measure that we
have taken today—unprecedented in our lifetime—but it is very
important that we do everything we can to protect the vulnerable, to make sure
that our industries can continue to operate and to protect the health of Western
Australians across the board. I urge all Western Australians to get vaccinated
as soon as they possibly can.
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