CORONAVIRUS — MANDATORY VACCINATION POLICY
1072. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the government's
vaccine mandate and the answer to question without notice 1071 asked yesterday,
in which the Leader of the House, as the Premier's representative,
advised the house —
The Department of Health is
responsible for compliance with public health directions.
(1) What
additional resources has the Department of Health been given to manage this
compliance regime?
(2) Can the minister please provide
a breakdown of how those resources will be acquitted?
(3) Will health department staff be inspecting the
records of mandated businesses to ensure all staff are vaccinated?
(4) If no to (3), how will
compliance be ensured?
(5) Given the current health
crisis, how can the Department of Health manage this major new obligation?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) As part of the 2021–22 state budget, the
state government provided an additional $1.9 billion investment in WA Health.
This includes an additional $487 million for COVID-19 preparedness and response
measures.
(3) Yes, if noncompliance is
suspected.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) It is the
responsibility of employers, owners, occupiers, operators or a person
apparently in charge of a workplace to take
all reasonable and lawful steps to collect and maintain a record of the
vaccination status of each worker and
to only roster on or otherwise permit to work those who are vaccinated or are
an exempt person in accordance with the directions. The Department of
Health will manage this obligation within current resources.