NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is facing backlash from within her own party after the state government moved to make COVID-19 vaccinations compulsory for construction workers and tradesmen in Western Sydney.
Key points:
- The Premier says the decision to introduce compulsory jabs for tradies is for the "greater good"
- At least three Liberal MPs will back a bill to ban mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations
- The federal government will not pursue a no jab, no job policy
The NSW government announced at the weekend that workers in nine local government areas (LGAs) would need proof of vaccination if they wanted to get back on the tools.
Construction sites will re-open at half capacity from Wednesday, after being closed amid surging cases in the Delta outbreak.
Western Sydney-based Liberal MP Tanya Davies described the "no jab, no job" policy as an "attack" on the people of NSW and a form of "discrimination".
She predicted the policy would lead to a wide range of liability and unfair dismissals and has drafted a private member's bill seeking to ban a blanket mandate for COVID-19 vaccinations.
"No person should lose their job if they do not get vaccinated. A person may not be vaccinated for any number of medical, ethical, or religious reasons," the Member for Mulgoa said.
"Workers in Western Sydney are being forced into vaccinations for fear of not being able to provide for their families. This is an assault on individuals' freedoms and civil liberties.
"This legislation will maintain appropriate balance for certain industries such as health, aged care and transport."
Supplied: Tanya Davies
)On Monday, the Premier said she understood it was a difficult time but the government needed to "make decisions for the greater good".
"The stakeholders and businesses who have spoken to government about how we can get workers back to work, especially from those areas of high concern at the moment, have been very positive and constructive," she said.
Ms Davies is not alone in her push. NSW Counter Terrorism Minister Anthony Roberts and Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith have also backed the bill.
On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government would not pursue compulsory vaccinations, but said businesses could make their own decisions, assuming those directions were lawful and reasonable.
ABC News: Brendan Esposito
)Ms Davies said Mr Morrison's comments left the door open for employees to be "discriminated against" based on their vaccination status.
"The Prime Minister's comments in the past few days have left the door wide open for employers to force their employees to be vaccinated. The federal government has effectively privatised compulsory COVID-19 vaccinations," she said.
In the United States, high-profile employers such as Netflix, Google and Delta Airlines have introduced vaccination policies.
Microsoft, which hopes to get employees back into the office in September, has said employees will need proof of vaccination to enter their buildings.
Special accommodation will be made available for employees who have medical conditions or for other reasons, such as religion.
The NSW government hopes to reach 6 million COVID vaccinations by the end of August, which would give it more options for easing lockdowns.
The state has administered 4.4 million jabs so far.
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2021-08-09 02:10:51Z
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