❓ Question regarding the publication and rationale behind the Chief Health Officer's advice on mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, specifically concerning Group 2 mandates and border openings. The Premier confirms agreement with the published table and urges opposition support.
AnsweredQoN 641Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY
641. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Roe I acknowledge Dr Michael and Rachel Livingston, who are
sitting in the Speaker's gallery. Dr Livingston is an excellent general
practitioner in the Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun and Jerramungup area who has been
nominated for the 2021 Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine's
Distinguished Service Award.
I refer to the advice from the Chief
Health Officer regarding mandatory vaccinations, specifically to the third last
paragraph of his letter dated 19 October where it states —
Attachment 1 provides further
guidance on current groups mandated, the next groups planned to be mandated (Group 1) and further groups where it is
anticipated that further mandates may be required, either in the advent
of an outbreak and subsequent lockdown or in preparation for opening of
interstate and international borders, with subsequent outbreaks (Group 2).
(1) Can the Premier confirm that the full advice,
including attachment 1 as sent to the Premier by the Chief Health Officer, has been published?
(2) Can the Premier explain why the Chief Health
Officer advises that only further groups—that is, group 2 —may
be considered for mandates when the table he calls attachment 1 states that
they must be vaccinated by 31 January 2022?
641. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
Before I ask my question, on behalf
of the member for Roe I acknowledge Dr Michael and Rachel Livingston, who are
sitting in the Speaker's gallery. Dr Livingston is an excellent general
practitioner in the Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun and Jerramungup area who has been
nominated for the 2021 Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine's
Distinguished Service Award.
I refer to the advice from the Chief
Health Officer regarding mandatory vaccinations, specifically to the third last
paragraph of his letter dated 19 October where it states —
Attachment 1 provides further
guidance on current groups mandated, the next groups planned to be mandated (Group 1) and further groups where it is
anticipated that further mandates may be required, either in the advent
of an outbreak and subsequent lockdown or in preparation for opening of
interstate and international borders, with subsequent outbreaks (Group 2).
(1) Can the Premier confirm that the full advice,
including attachment 1 as sent to the Premier by the Chief Health Officer, has been published?
(2) Can the Premier explain why the Chief Health
Officer advises that only further groups—that is, group 2 —may
be considered for mandates when the table he calls attachment 1 states that
they must be vaccinated by 31 January 2022?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Obviously,
we had a lot of discussion about this between the Chief Health Officer, the
Minister for Health and me. The Chief Health Officer is in full agreement with
the table that we published that all those groups must be vaccinated by the
time frame we have indicated. As the member correctly quoted, the letter does indicate that it is in the lead-up to
the opening of the international and interstate borders. At some point
in time, the commonwealth will open international borders and the state will
open interstate borders to New South Wales and Victoria. Clearly, having all
these groups vaccinated is absolutely necessary.
I
urge the opposition to be supportive and constructive about what we are trying
to do and to stop undermining it.
we had a lot of discussion about this between the Chief Health Officer, the
Minister for Health and me. The Chief Health Officer is in full agreement with
the table that we published that all those groups must be vaccinated by the
time frame we have indicated. As the member correctly quoted, the letter does indicate that it is in the lead-up to
the opening of the international and interstate borders. At some point
in time, the commonwealth will open international borders and the state will
open interstate borders to New South Wales and Victoria. Clearly, having all
these groups vaccinated is absolutely necessary.
I
urge the opposition to be supportive and constructive about what we are trying
to do and to stop undermining it.
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