Covid vaccine mandate revoked for Queensland police

Queensland police will no longer be made to get the Covid vaccine after the direction was revoked this morning.

Queensland police officers are no not required to get the Covid vaccine.

Queensland police will no longer be made to get a Covid vaccination, after the direction was revoked ton Monday morning.

In a memo to staff today acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said public health advice suggested the virus would persist in the community for some time “with the severity and risk presented scaling up and down at various intervals”.

The Courier-Mail has confirmed 16 police officers and six staff members have been sacked for disobeying Covid-19 vaccination directions. A further 100 police have been sent discipline proceedings notices while 50 staff have been sent show cause notices.

It’s unclear what discipline action these officers will now face however Mr Chelepy in his memo to staff said they would still be investigated and “dealt with in line with our discipline processes”.

“While the Covid-19 public health environment continues to remain unpredictable, following the removal of the Public Health Emergency Declaration and changes to the public health risk environment, the QPS has reviewed the current Covid-19 vaccination requirements and it has been determined to revoke Commissioner’s Directions No. 13 and 14 as of Monday 12 December 2022,” Mr Chelepy wrote.

Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy. Picture: Lachie Millard

“The Deputy Chief Health Officer of Queensland was consulted as part of the review process conducted by QPS to determine the outcome of the direction.

“Following the revocation of the mandate, any conditions attached to exemptions granted by the Vaccination Exemption Committee (VEC) will no longer apply. Members who had conditions attached to their exemptions will be required to engage with their local management to arrange a return to business as usual.

“Members who were subject to discipline action for failure to comply with the Commissioner’s Directions will still be investigated and dealt with in line with our discipline processes.

“The outcomes for these employees will need to be reviewed on an individual basis, with consideration given to the nature and details of each matter.”

Mr Chelepy said there would still continue to be unknown risks for officers.

“As we transition to a different phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, all members are strongly encouraged to continue to follow all advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and receive Covid-19 vaccines and boosters as recommended according to their age and individual health needs.

“In this new operating environment, there will continue to be unknown risks, as well as an increased risk of potential exposure, so it important to follow health recommendations to reduce the spread of this virus.

“Members should be aware and familiarise themselves with current Queensland Government Covid-19 advice which uses a traffic light system to assist individuals with what they should do to reduce the risk of catching and spreading Covid-19. The traffic light levels – red, amber, green – are based on the current level of risk in the community,” he said.

“The current traffic light level is amber – which means moderate rates of community transmission and Queensland is coming off a wave or may enter a new wave.

“We must be mindful of the virus’s ability to mutate into potentially more transmissible and serious variants. The QPS must maintain the ability to act on these developments and to issue future directions to ensure we maintain a ready workforce to meet our legislative responsibilities.

“The uncertain Covid-19 operating environment requires us all to remain vigilant, and I thank you for your ongoing commitment. Our people have already done the hard yards and should be proud of our collective effort to limit the impact of this virus on our organisation.”

A police spokesman confirmed the service would continue to assess all matters “currently initiated in relation to the Commissioner’s Directions on vaccination requirements, including disciplinary matters and proceedings before the courts and tribunal”.

The spokesman said 16 police officers and six staff members had been dismissed for disobeying the direction and would not be reinstated.

“102 Discipline Proceedings Notices (police) and 50 Show Cause Notices (staff) have been issued for disobeying the Commissioner’s direction in respect of the Covid-19 vaccination and these matters are ongoing,” the spokesman said.

“There is a total of 123 Covid-19 matters currently ongoing.

“Since 2020, there has been an additional 9 police officers and 5 staff members dismissed for other matters.”

Some police and ambulance officers challenged the Covid-19 vaccination directives in the courts.

Justice Glenn Martin has reserved his decision on applications to overturn vaccination mandates.

Solicitor Justin Sibley, whose firm represents hundreds of police, said he welcomed the revocation of the mandate.

“We are still awaiting the Supreme Court’s determination whether the directions were invalid,” he said.

“Given the obvious ineffectiveness of their imposition in stopping police from contracting Covid, let alone transmitting it, the revocation is of course well overdue.

“In the context of the clear admission in the revocation that the ground has shifted, we are astounded that career officers, with unblemished discipline histories are being terminated, as recently as in the last few weeks, simply for maintaining their bodily autonomy.”