CORONAVIRUS — VACCINATIONS — MANDATORY
639. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the minister representing the
Minister for Health:
I
refer to the ability of the Chief Health Officer to issue public health orders
for mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.
(1) Will the
state government provide definitive guidance and advice to the business and
community sectors on implementing mandatory vaccination requirements for their
employees, contractors and customers?
(2) Is the
minister confident that vaccine requirements announced for WA health workers
are constitutional and legal?
(3) If yes to
(2), has the minister sought legal advice on how the requirements under the
Equal Opportunity Act 1984 will be met with regard to mandatory vaccination
requirements?
(4) Will the
minister ensure that people with legitimate reasons not to be vaccinated, such
as chemotherapy patients or people with
immunodeficiency disorders, are not discriminated against by vaccination
policies?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the
Minister for Health.
(1)–(4) Public health directions are legally enforceable
instruments issued by the Chief Health Officer pursuant to sections
157(1)(e), 157(1)(k), 180 and 190(7)(p) of the Public Health Act 2016 and meet
the requirements of that act and the Equal Opportunity Act 1984. The
Residential Aged Care Facility Worker Access Directions and the Health Worker
(Restrictions on Access) Directions both provide for exemptions on medical
grounds.