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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-27 Daily Xml
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COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:11): My question is to the Treasurer. What advice has the government given to public servants regarding COVID vaccinations?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:11): On the 19th of this month, a whole-of-government email, authorised by the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, Erma Ranieri, and the Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, was circulated to all South Australian public sector staff in relation to this issue. That whole-of-government email strongly encouraged employees to get their COVID-19 vaccinations, and I am advised that individual agencies have also followed up that message of the 19th and have communicated about the vaccine rollout through their internal channels to members of their public sector workforce.

In that whole-of-government email, which did include a filmed message from the Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, details were provided in terms of eligibility and also where vaccinations could be accessed at that particular time. It said:

The COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary, but highly recommended, because we know that both vaccines available are highly effective at preventing serious illness and death.

We all need to continue to play our part in stopping the spread and keep our State safe—we encourage you to roll up when it's your turn to get vaccinated.

In relation to the issue of COVID vaccinations during work time, the whole-of-government email said:

Public sector employees are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. Where a COVID-19 vaccination appointment is scheduled during an employee's normal or rostered working hours, they are entitled to attend in paid work time provided the appointment time is negotiated with their manager in advance and will not impact on frontline service delivery. More information can be found in the Commissioner's Determination 3.1.

I note in particular a number of agencies sought that particular clarification in terms of the advice of the public sector agencies. The obvious example is teachers teaching in a classroom, or staff working in a childcare centre, walking out in the middle of a class to get their COVID vaccination and leaving their students. I am sure it wouldn't be done, but that is just an obvious example where, in terms of frontline service delivery, negotiating beforehand with the appropriate manager of the work site in terms of accessing time to go and get your COVID vaccination makes good sense. Certainly, a number of agencies and stakeholders involved in frontline service delivery wanted that to be made clear in the whole-of-government email, which did go to all Public Service staff.

The advice from the Chief Public Health Officer, obviously, but also supported by the role of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, is one of very clear direction and strong encouragement to take up your COVID-19 vaccination.

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