Queensland business chiefs reject mandatory Covid jabs, preferring to encourage staff

Queensland business leaders are preferring to ‘encourage’ staff to get a Covid-19 vaccination, rather than pushing to make it compulsory.

Queensland business leaders are resisting calls to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for all staff, preferring to encourage workers to get the jab.

Fruit and vegetable processor SPC last week became the first company outside of healthcare to mandate Covid-19 vaccines for staff and suppliers at its Victorian cannery.

Hutchinson Builders chairman Scott Hutchinson said he did not want to see a mandatory vaccination imposed on his 1400 staff.

“We’re not in the business of making people do things. It would be very un-Hutchies to do that,” he said.

“We just ask our people to do things and they do things. They’re all trying to get vaccinated but it’s not that easy. I have not heard of any anti vaxxers at Hutchies.”

Hutchinson Builders chairman Scott Hutchinson says the company will not make vaccination compulsory.

On Friday Prime Minister Scott Morrison ruled out making Covid-19 vaccines compulsory in Australia but paved the way for employers to create their own immunisation policy.

He said Australia didn’t have a mandatory vaccine policy and that was “not changing” but he said individual businesses and employers could be given several options to stop unvaccinated people from working at or entering their premises.

Employers could make a “reasonable directive to staff” to get the Covid-19 jab but this would need to comply with discrimination law, by considering whether workers were in “essential occupations” or coming into close contact with people who may be carrying the virus.

Suncorp chief executive Steve Johnston.

Suncorp Group chief executive Steve Johnston said Covid-19 vaccines were the “ticket to a more normal existence”.

“At Suncorp, we are strongly advocating for free, safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines for all,” he said.

Heritage Bank CEO Peter Lock.

“This is why we are doing everything possible to support and encourage our employees to play their part and get vaccinated. We are working with health officers to answer any questions our people may have, ultimately enabling the continued vaccine roll-out.

“We will consider playing a role in employer-assisted vaccine roll out if this becomes possible, guided by the Australian and New Zealand Governments and in partnership with appropriate healthcare providers.”

Toowoomba-based Heritage Bank chief executive Peter Lock said staff members were responsible and would do the right thing to help keep people safe.

“We are giving our staff paid leave to get the vaccine, or if they have to undergo a Covid-19 test, and we’re encouraging them to make attending an appointment to get the vaccine as a priority over work meetings,” he said.

Brisbane-based Trisco Foods chief executive Mike Tristram said the company, which makes syrups and food thickeners in factories in Australia and the US, had not yet formed an opinion about compulsory staff vaccinations.

“It’s a complex issue where we aren’t introducing a policy just yet,” said Mr Tristram.

“We do see that in NSW and possibly emerging in Queensland the elimination strategy is fading, and the suppression strategy is really going to be reliant upon vaccination rates being quickly ramped up.”