Queensland vaccine mandate enforcement questioned by Tablelands cafe owner

A Far Northern cafe owner who came close to firing a teenage employee on Christmas Eve claims the state government is unwilling to enforce vaccine rules following multiple requests.

A FAR Northern cafe owner claims the state government is unwilling to stand by its own vaccine rules, after coming close to permanently firing an employee over Christmas.

Lake Barrine cafe owner Ian Fielding stood down, but did not terminate the employment of an unvaccinated young female employee when Queensland’s new vaccination rules came into effect.

The employee of eight months was highly valued and had earned an apprentice chef role, leaving Mr Fielding hopeful the rules might one day change and she could return to work.

“She’s a very quiet, but lovely kid, she was really blossoming with us,” Mr Fielding said.

“But due to her religious beliefs, she’s not vaccinated. So I was hopeful the rules might change one day.”

Queensland health minister Yvette D'Ath's department has come under fire by a Tablelands cafe owner for not enforcing the latest vaccination rules.

However following a visit from “very friendly” police officers on Christmas Eve and a subsequent call from the Office of Liquor And Gaming Regulation for compliance checks, both of which he said he passed, Mr Fielding’s hopes of putting his teenage employee back on turned into a grim reality of “sacking her on Christmas Eve.”

So on Friday, he called Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath’s office in a bid to negotiate an exemption for his employee and protect himself “from the possibility of discrimination.”

“I spoke to a liaison officer in Yvette D’Ath’s office and explained the situation about my employee, how I’d have to let her go, and (the officer) acknowledged it was awful,” he said.

“So I said to her ‘surely there is something we can do (like get an exemption)’.

“She said ‘oh no I don’t think we can’.

“So I said can you maybe speak to someone in a higher office. She said ‘oh no I can’t do that either’.

“OK, in that case then, I’d just like the Queensland Health department to issue me with a letter, outlining that under the mandate I have to terminate this young girl’s employment.

“Again she said ‘oh, we can’t do that.’ And they wouldn’t give me a reason why.

“So basically, they’re not willing to enforce their own mandate.”

Mr Fielding said following the phone call, he spoke to Hill MP Shane Knuth’s office, who advised him to speak to the Cairns Post.

“So I’m hoping they (Yvette D’Ath) take note of this,” he said.

Ms D’Ath’s office was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Queensland vaccine mandate enforcement questioned by Tablelands cafe owner