Katherine MLA Jo Hersey defends vax email to Education Minister

AN NT MLA has defended an email resisting the Chief Minister’s call for mandatory vaccines among high-risk workers, including teachers.

A CLP MLA has defended an email resisting the Chief Minister’s call for mandatory vaccines among high-risk workers, including teachers.

In an email to Education Minister Lauren Moss, Katherine MLA Jo Hersey said Katherine High School teachers were among those concerned about mandatory jabs.

“How are we going to attract and retain teachers at these remote regions if the Chief Minister comes out and says he will legislate that all teachers need to be vaccinated?” she wrote. “We live in a democratic society not a dictatorship.

“We will never get good people to return or be retained or attract new ones with this attitude and it is most disappointing.”

Last Wednesday, Chief Minister Michael Gunner ­revealed changes to be made once the NT hits an 80 per cent vaccination rate, ­including mandatory vaccines for workers in high-risk environments.

Under the policy, workers who come into contact with children, such as childcare workers and teachers, would be required to get vaccinated.

Those who refuse to get the jab will either be reassigned or dismissed.

Mr Gunner also confirmed once Covid-19 was no longer declared a public health emergency, the vaccine policy would be made into legislation. On Monday, Mr Gunner said Ms Hersey’s email was disappointing and he stood by his policy.

“Our young kids don’t have the choice to be vaccinated,” he said. “You may choose not to get vaccinated but you don’t get to choose to put our kids at risk – no vax, no place in our classrooms. It’s that simple.”

Ms Hersey defended the email on Monday but said it did not reflect her own stance on vaccines.

“Over a couple of weeks, I had been approached by some teachers who felt the Gunner government should have been consulting with them better about the vaccine rollout,” she said.

“In my capacity as local member, I provided that direct feedback to the Minister for Education – including on the Chief Minister’s announcement regarding mandatory vaccinations.

“My email correspondence does not reflect my, or the CLP’s, position.

“The CLP opposition has requested a briefing from the chief health officer and looks forward to seeing the detail on how the government will implement its road map.”