Business push for workplace vaccine mandate

Top industry groups say governments should consider allowing employers to force staff to get vaccinated.

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox says increased supply and evidence vaccines slowed workplace transmission should start the conversation on mandates.

Australia’s biggest industry groups say the nation is ready for governments to consider mandating Covid-19 vaccinations in the workplace.

Tying vaccinations to employment is already operating in the hotel quarantine system and aged care, but calls are growing for wider powers allowing employers to force staff to get jabbed.

Constitutional experts also say there is nothing in the nation’s founding document preventing the states or the commonwealth from making jabs compulsory.

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said on Monday increased supply and evidence vaccines slowed workplace transmission should start the conversation on mandates.

“For the first time, employers are able to give careful consideration as to whether … it is reasonable in the circumstances of their businesses and employees to man­date vaccinations.

“Until now, mandating was not practical,” he said.

“Mandating will not be appropriate for many employers but there are now a lot more circumstances where this will be a potential option than just the narrow circumstances of quarantine and residential aged care.”

Mr Willox also called on groups such as WorkSafe Australia to update their advice on whether mandates were practicable, considering the changes in vaccine supply and eligibility.

Vaccine mandates have gained steam in recent weeks. US President Joe Biden has made vaccinations compulsory for federal public servants and French President Emmanuel Macron is moving to make the vaccine mandatory across most of the population.

While Australian businesses want to discuss mandates, industry groups on Monday said Scott Morrison and national cabinet needed to back mandates first.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting chief executive Jenny Lambert said the private sector was open to mandates and wanted to play a bigger role in vaccines. “We recognise that mandating vac­c­inations may be an appropriate risk-management response by government for those operating in high-risk ­settings. Mandating vaccinations is a role for government and should rest with the health authorities,” she said.

“Employers are not health advisers. Clear government health guidelines are required for employers to encourage their employees to get vaccinated.”

Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott also called for governments to consider mandates.

“This is a conversation that has to be driven … through public health orders, not left to individual employers. It’s at least worth a discussion,” she said.

Council of Small Business Australia chief executive Alexi Boyd said small businesses were not in a position to mandate vaccinations without government guidance. “Small business owners are not big CEOs. They stand face-to-face every day with their employees and their customers.

“Many cannot take the risk of mandating vaccinations,” she said. “It’s up to the government to decide what is best for the community. We cannot expect small business owners to do that.”

Anti-lockdown protesters in the past week have argued that mandatory vaccines would be against Australians’ constitutional rights but University of Sydney constitutional expert Anne Twomey said national cabinet would not be hindered by the Constitution if it were to consider vaccine mandates. “Some anti-vaxxers point to section 23 of the Constitution which prevents civil conscription of medical services, but that would only prevent the conscription of doctors to government service,” she said.