❓ Ms. Davies questions the legal basis for the Police Commissioner's mask/vaccination mandate. The Premier defends the mandate, citing emergency powers and employer responsibilities, emphasizing the critical nature of police functions.
AnsweredQoN 357Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS
— VACCINATIONS — POLICE
357. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the Commissioner
of Police's requirement for WA police officers and staff to be
vaccinated or wear a mask.
(1) Under what
powers can the WA police commissioner mandate that Western Australia Police
Force employees are required to wear a face mask if they are not fully
vaccinated?
(2) Does the Premier and his government support mandatory
vaccination for the WA Police Force?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry, I require only the Premier to
answer the question—no-one else, thanks.
— VACCINATIONS — POLICE
357. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the Commissioner
of Police's requirement for WA police officers and staff to be
vaccinated or wear a mask.
(1) Under what
powers can the WA police commissioner mandate that Western Australia Police
Force employees are required to wear a face mask if they are not fully
vaccinated?
(2) Does the Premier and his government support mandatory
vaccination for the WA Police Force?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry, I require only the Premier to
answer the question—no-one else, thanks.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
Chris Dawson is an outstanding Western Australian police commissioner. He is
highly respected across the community. Over
the last 18 months, the Minister for Health and I have basically met and worked
with him on a daily basis. One of his roles is State Emergency
Coordinator, which means that he has authority under the Emergency Management
Act to exercise powers to do and require certain things across the community.
He is also the employer of police, police auxiliary staff and civilian staff in
various roles. He advised us, maybe last week, in his range of roles, that if
staff in those positions get sick and the facility or the activity ceases
operating, it will be catastrophic for the state. I will give the Leader of the
Opposition one example. The emergency call
line 000 is staffed 24 hours a day. If staff members who are trained in dealing
with these things get COVID and get sick, the emergency call line stops
operating, or the 131 444 line stops operating. He said, ''I cannot
allow those people to all go out sick.'' He has put in place a requirement
for those people, initially, to be vaccinated. There are various other
functions within the police that are of similar importance in keeping the
community safe and, frankly, society operating and functioning. He said, ''Look,
there's a requirement for them to get vaccinated or wear a mask. That's
the requirement I'm going to put in place.'' I agree with him.
It might sound harsh, it might sound difficult, but this is a time for doing difficult and tough things. He has powers
under the emergency management l aws and he has powers as an employer,
particularly in relation to uniformed officers. There might be some complaint—I
saw an article in the paper with some complaints today—but, frankly, I am
on the police commissioner's side.
Chris Dawson is an outstanding Western Australian police commissioner. He is
highly respected across the community. Over
the last 18 months, the Minister for Health and I have basically met and worked
with him on a daily basis. One of his roles is State Emergency
Coordinator, which means that he has authority under the Emergency Management
Act to exercise powers to do and require certain things across the community.
He is also the employer of police, police auxiliary staff and civilian staff in
various roles. He advised us, maybe last week, in his range of roles, that if
staff in those positions get sick and the facility or the activity ceases
operating, it will be catastrophic for the state. I will give the Leader of the
Opposition one example. The emergency call
line 000 is staffed 24 hours a day. If staff members who are trained in dealing
with these things get COVID and get sick, the emergency call line stops
operating, or the 131 444 line stops operating. He said, ''I cannot
allow those people to all go out sick.'' He has put in place a requirement
for those people, initially, to be vaccinated. There are various other
functions within the police that are of similar importance in keeping the
community safe and, frankly, society operating and functioning. He said, ''Look,
there's a requirement for them to get vaccinated or wear a mask. That's
the requirement I'm going to put in place.'' I agree with him.
It might sound harsh, it might sound difficult, but this is a time for doing difficult and tough things. He has powers
under the emergency management l aws and he has powers as an employer,
particularly in relation to uniformed officers. There might be some complaint—I
saw an article in the paper with some complaints today—but, frankly, I am
on the police commissioner's side.
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