Qld police sacked over vaccine mandates now exploring options

Police sacked for not complying with Covid-19 vaccine mandates have taken their cases to court, asked to be reinstated or in some cases are back at work.

Police sacked for not complying with Covid-19 vaccine mandates have taken their cases to court to appeal, or have written to the organisation asking to be reinstated.

The Queensland Police Service says some of the employees stood down or suspended for not complying with the directive have also returned to work, however it is understood many of them were involved in successful legal action challenging the mandate.

Former commissioner Katarina Carroll announced a vaccine mandate directive in September 2021.

Officers faced suspensions or sackings for not complying and a number of police challenged the directive in court.

In December 2022 the directive was revoked but staff remained stood down and suspended.

In February this year, 74 police and QAS staff won their legal fight against the directives, with Supreme Court Justice Glenn Martin finding that the Queensland Police Service directive was unlawful and the Queensland Ambulance Service directive was ineffective.

During the saga, a number of staff not involved in the legal claim were sacked for not following the mandate, while others chose to quit.

In December 2022 the service said 16 police officers and six staff members had been sacked, while there was still 102 discipline proceedings notices for suspended officers and 50 show cause notices for staff.

Last year the service said the number of staff suspended at any point was 201, which was made up of 116 police officers and 85 staff.

However QPS has not responded to questions as to how many staff have been sacked to date and how many remain suspended.

It also did not answer questions as to whether it would dismiss any remaining suspended officers or to allow sacked officers to return.

“The Queensland Police Service acknowledges the outcome of the Supreme Court judicial review regarding the commissioner’s directions on Covid-19 vaccinations,” a spokeswoman said.

“The QPS is carefully considering all matters impacted by the Supreme Court’s decision and is liaising with affected employees or their legal representatives.

“Some employees who were stood down or suspended for non-compliance with the directions have since returned to work following the revocation of their suspensions.”

The spokeswoman said a number of employees who were dismissed had filed applications in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal or the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission or have written to the QPS seeking reinstatement.

However it is understood a number of applications were made prior to the Supreme Court decision and the police service is fighting them on the grounds the terminations were not unlawful and were valid when they were made.

“An update will be provided to the legal representatives of the affected employees in due course,” the spokeswoman said.

“As such, it is inappropriate for the QPS to provide further comment at this time.”