Police union ‘fully supportive’ of Commissioner’s vaccine mandate

Police officers who do not get the jab before a looming vaccination deadline could be taken off the frontline under a new Covid-19 mandate.

The Queensland Police Service is making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all officers and staff, issuing a deadline for employees to be fully vaccinated by early next year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Police officers who do not get the jab before a looming vaccination deadline could be taken off the frontline under a new Covid-19 mandate.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll announced on Thursday that members of the police service would be required to have their first dose by October 4 and their second by January 23.

Under the new direction, any officers who have not received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or who are legally exempt, will be required to wear a mask while on duty when they cannot socially distance.

The mandate is among the first for a policing jurisdiction in Australia.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll thanked the unions for their support. Picture: David Clark

In an email seen by The Courier Mail, the Queensland Police Union confirmed to officers that they were “fully supportive” of the vaccination mandate.

The union said that based on legal advice, those who did not follow the Commissioner’s direction could lose their job.

“Your union has of course sought our own legal advice that advises us that the Commissioner of Police’s course of action in legal and that for those members who refuse to be vaccinated, the Commissioner is lawfully able to take action against them up to and including dismissal,” the email read.

“As the Commissioner of Police has advised, and we have now had confirmed with our own independent legal option, this direction is lawful and must be followed.”

Speaking on ABC Breakfast radio this morning, Ms Carroll said there were processes the service would work through if an officer did not follow the direction.

“I’m hoping people will voluntarily do this but if they don’t … they will be wearing masks, it’s a possibility they will be taken out of frontline operational roles so there’s many possibilities and options for us,” she said.

Ms Carroll said approximately 60 per cent of police staff had received their first vaccine and it should not be a problem for the remaining staff to get their first vaccine within the five week deadline.

“It isn’t a lot of time but we are 1a and 1b and we do have priority,” she said.

“That means we can get this done and we will be pushing through our managers and leaders through the organisation to encourage officers and staff to make sure they get the vaccine.”

Ms Carroll thanked the unions for their support in progressing the mandate.

She said the purpose of her direction was to keep police service staff, their families and the community safe.

“As our police officers undertake their duties across the state during this public health emergency, we must acknowledge the right of our community members to feel safe in their interactions with us,” she said.

“Being vaccinated supports this commitment and will be an important step in providing the community, regardless of their location, the confidence to go about their daily lives.”

A spokeswoman for Queensland Police said managers would: “engage closely with their staff as individual issues are worked through over the next five months”.

Alternative work arrangements for officers and staff may be considered depending on individual circumstances,” she said.

“The QPS has well-established policies and processes in place for matters where members fail to comply with a Commissioner’s direction and each matter is assessed on a case-by-case basis.”

Originally published as Police union ‘fully supportive’ of Commissioner’s vaccine mandate