Queensland firefighters escape Covid-19 vaccination mandate

Queensland’s firefighters will not be forced to get Covid-19 vaccinations, despite mandates for other emergency services, with a union citing falling case numbers and the responsible minister saying space in a fire truck was not as confined as in a police car.

After months of dragging their feet in enforcing a Covid jab mandate, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have announced there will be no compulsory vaccinations as cases drop and the state considers winding back restrictions.

The Queensland Government has enforced mandates for other emergency services, causing a loss of staff in the police service and nursing staff.

The United Firefighters Union’s John Oliver said the decision was made following a statement from chief health officer Dr John Gerrard that restrictions were under review and could be wound back within weeks.

“There seemed no point in bringing in a mandate now. The union was involved in consultations on this and certainly the Commissioner of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Greg Leach was contemplating a mandate,” Mr Oliver said.

United Firefighters Union Queensland state secretary John Oliver. File picture

But on Wednesday morning Dr Gerrard said that although he isn’t responsible for implementing vaccine mandates, he supported all frontline workers getting the vaccine.

“I would like to see firefighters vaccinated against Covid-19,” he said.

“I think it’s a decision for the fire service. I think that any profession dealing with the public should be vaccinated.”

The QFES has revealed that the decision not to mandate was made following analysis of risk assessments and expert advice from authorities, in addition to extensive consultation with paid staff, volunteers, unions and associations.

“Several factors were considered in arriving at this decision including the current risk assessment for QFES and the ability to deliver services to the Queensland community, measures QFES already has in place including Pandemic Preparedness Plans and Standing Orders, the current downward trend of active cases across Queensland and Queensland Health’s advice on the current and predicted future of the pandemic workplace health and safety obligations,” a spokesman said.

“There is always the potential for increased community transmission in the future and there may be a time when this decision is revisited based on changing risk. While it is not currently mandatory for QFES staff and volunteers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, personnel must operate within Queensland Health guidelines and directives as they respond to incidents in the community,” he said.

QFES staff and volunteers are not permitted to undertake certain tasks including international and interstate deployments or enter certain buildings (except in emergency situations) unless they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

QFES’s Pandemic Plans detail additional safety measures and requirements for staff and volunteers when interacting with their colleagues and the community to limit the spread of COVID-19.

When asked why there appeared to be one rule for firefighters and another for other emergency services, Police, Corrective Services, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan said it was up to each Commissioner to manage the risk to their workforce.

“Each agency takes their own approach about how they are managing risk,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Commissioner (Greg Leach) has made a decision based on the health advice and also the measures that they have in place to create Covid-safe workplaces and wherever possible prevent the transmission of Covid.

QFES commissioner Greg Leach. File picture

“Just because you don’t have a mandate doesn’t mean people aren’t getting vaccinated.”

Mr Ryan said the vast majority of QFES personnel were vaccinated and the numbers were “in line with the broader Queensland community at around 90 per cent”.

Mr Ryan said he supported Commissioner’s Leach’s decision and there were “many reasons” why the vaccine mandate was necessary for police and not firefighters.

“(A fire truck) is not as confined a place as a police vehicle,” Mr Ryan said.

“It’s not being exposed to high risk situations all the time, they have got the ability to socially distance in fire stations, there’s many reasons.

“Ultimately it is up to the Commissioner of fire and emergency services to best manage risk based on the health advice.

“And the decision that he’s made now at this point in time is that a vaccine mandate is not required, but that doesn’t mean that it might be required in the future.”