❓ Ms. Davies questions why vaccination status isn't policed at Dumas House like in small businesses. The Premier responds that mandates differ based on health advice and existing directions, and office environments don't have the same requirements.
AnsweredQoN 51Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — VACCINATION STATUS — DUMAS
HOUSE VISITORS
51. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Why
is the Premier unable to confirm that there is no policing of vaccination
status of visitors to Dumas House when small businesses and junior hospitality
staff across the state are having to police the vaccination status of
customers, and the same demand is not enforced at Dumas House?
HOUSE VISITORS
51. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Why
is the Premier unable to confirm that there is no policing of vaccination
status of visitors to Dumas House when small businesses and junior hospitality
staff across the state are having to police the vaccination status of
customers, and the same demand is not enforced at Dumas House?
AnswerView source ↗
My understanding is that a range of
people—I think most of the ministerial officers, in fact, probably all—are
vaccinated and have not been required to be, or are encouraged but may not be
required to be vaccinated —
Ms A. Sanderson : Mandated.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mandated to be
vaccinated. I do not think the front desk of each ministerial office has a requirement
for people to show their vaccination status. I do not think that that is a requirement
under the existing directions.
In terms of hospitality businesses
and the like, there is a requirement under the existing directions, which were
drafted based upon health advice for obvious reasons. That is the rule. I understand
the Parliament's rules are largely because the Parliament resolved to
do this as an institution, but not following directions by the Chief Health
Officer. That is my understanding.
Ms A. Sanderson interjected.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : We comply with the
law and the directions that are in place. We put in place mandates because ,
as I have explained before, otherwise we would have very low rates of
vaccination because we have not had major outbreaks.
Not having major outbreaks is a good thing. I went through 18 months or so of
attacks, particularly from the eastern states, over our vaccination
levels. Firstly, we did not have as many vaccines given to us as New South
Wales and Victoria and, secondly, we did not have mass outbreaks, encouraging
people to get vaccinated. Now our vaccination levels are at least as good as
all the other states. Perhaps we might be level pegging with Tasmania and maybe the ACT is slightly ahead, but the ACT
is a city state and has a very compliant population. Our measures have
worked to get people vaccinated.
In terms of the requirement to show
a vaccination certificate, a range of venues have that requirement under the existing directions. My understanding is that that
is not required in an office environment. I do not think the member's question has a great deal of relevance.
The SPEAKER : Members, that
concludes question time.
people—I think most of the ministerial officers, in fact, probably all—are
vaccinated and have not been required to be, or are encouraged but may not be
required to be vaccinated —
Ms A. Sanderson : Mandated.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Mandated to be
vaccinated. I do not think the front desk of each ministerial office has a requirement
for people to show their vaccination status. I do not think that that is a requirement
under the existing directions.
In terms of hospitality businesses
and the like, there is a requirement under the existing directions, which were
drafted based upon health advice for obvious reasons. That is the rule. I understand
the Parliament's rules are largely because the Parliament resolved to
do this as an institution, but not following directions by the Chief Health
Officer. That is my understanding.
Ms A. Sanderson interjected.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : We comply with the
law and the directions that are in place. We put in place mandates because ,
as I have explained before, otherwise we would have very low rates of
vaccination because we have not had major outbreaks.
Not having major outbreaks is a good thing. I went through 18 months or so of
attacks, particularly from the eastern states, over our vaccination
levels. Firstly, we did not have as many vaccines given to us as New South
Wales and Victoria and, secondly, we did not have mass outbreaks, encouraging
people to get vaccinated. Now our vaccination levels are at least as good as
all the other states. Perhaps we might be level pegging with Tasmania and maybe the ACT is slightly ahead, but the ACT
is a city state and has a very compliant population. Our measures have
worked to get people vaccinated.
In terms of the requirement to show
a vaccination certificate, a range of venues have that requirement under the existing directions. My understanding is that that
is not required in an office environment. I do not think the member's question has a great deal of relevance.
The SPEAKER : Members, that
concludes question time.
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