National cabinet agrees mandatory vaccines for aged care workers

One group will be required to receive a Covid-19 vaccine before heading to work under new rules agreed by the federal and state governments.

The Covid-19 jab could become mandatory for aged care workers after the federal and state governments agreed to the measure.

Demands for mandatory vaccines have risen in recent days after Victoria’s Covid-19 outbreak passed between staff and residents at Melbourne’s Arcare facility.

Speaking after a national cabinet meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed the nation’s leaders had paved the way for the measure.

“I was very firmly of the view, and supported strongly by states and territories, that we need to look at how we can do this safely,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison said the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) had been tasked with advising how the measure could be implemented and expected a “prompt” report.

“What we have asked the AHPPC to do is advise us of a suitable time frame in which a mandatory vaccination of aged care workers would be suitable and safe from a medical perspective, taking into account the balance in risks,” Mr Morrison said.

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Scott Morrison says his ‘very firm view’ is mandatory vaccines for aged care workers are necessary. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“We will let them have their consideration and advise us what would be a safe period to have such a mandatory vaccination time period.”

Mr Morrison said a decision on whether to impose the measure would be ultimately a matter for the states and territories.

“For vaccinations to be made mandatory for aged care workers, that has to be done by public health orders at a state level, as it is done for flu vaccinations,” he said.

The Prime Minister on Thursday told parliament the AHPPC was “unlikely” to reverse its advice against mandating vaccines for aged care workers but denied he had overridden medical advice.

“We want to do it safely, and that is why we have referred how to do it safely to the AHPPC,” he said.

“I would not share the view that national cabinet at all has gone against medical advice. We are actually seeking it.”

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly conceded a WA health order to mandate vaccines for hotel security guards had led to workers leaving the industry.

Aged care worker face mandatory Covid vaccinations. Picture: Rob Leeson

“We know that that could be an issue and we don’t want that to be an issue,” he said.

“We want people to come forward and volunteer.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed aged care facilities would be obligated to report all worker vaccinations from June 15,

“Where an aged care worker has been vaccinated outside the facility, (they must) provide the information so we have full accounting of every facility and every aged care worker,” he said.

Mr Morrison also revealed how funding for a new Covid-19 emergency payment would be shared by the commonwealth and states.

The Prime Minister confirmed the federal government would cover payments to individuals, while the states and territories would fund payments to businesses.

The federal government on Thursday confirmed some people in Covid-19 hotspots, including Melburnians, would be eligible for weekly emergency payments to help them through the crisis.

Applicants in Melbourne will be able to apply for the payment from Tuesday but must report less than $10,000 in liquid assets and have “insufficient” leave entitlements.

Eligible applicants would receive $500 if they would normally worked more than 20 hours and $325 if they worked less.