NT government’s grace period for workers to apply to both public and private sector workers

The private sector has expressed frustration after its workers received no grace period for complying with the NT’s vaccination mandate while public servants did.

INDUSTRY bodies have expressed frustration over revelations public servants will get a vaccination mandate grace period, while private citizens will not.

It comes after the NT News on Saturday revealed the government was struggling to apply its own rules to its workers, and would simply be standing down unvaccinated public servants on full pay.

Businesses big and small rushed for weeks leading up to Saturday to ensure they were compliant with the NT government’s strict vaccination mandate, with threats of penalties for noncompliance.

But both NT Health and unions have since given the impression of an unspecified grace period for the unvaccinated.

Chamber of Commerce NT chief operating officer Nicole Walsh said her organisation wrote to the Chief Minister on Saturday “seeking clarification” over reports public servants would still be paid until they were officially terminated. “We will keep the business community and members updated,” Ms Walsh said.

David Malone from Master Builders NT expressed frustration with the perceived double-standard. Picture: Che Chorley

Master Builders NT chief executive David Malone said it was disappointing to see the government give its employees the perception of leeway, given the tough rhetoric directed at the private sector.

“The government made the rules and every business has had to respond to those rules,” Mr Malone said. “Government is an employer and you’d expect them to be able to manage the obligations which came into effect (on Saturday), by (Saturday).”

Mr Malone said many employers in the construction industry had spent time and money ensuring they were compliant with chief health officer directions by Saturday.

“They made the rules and business has spent a lot of money, and will spend a lot of money, to comply with the directions. It hasn’t been easy for any business,” he said.

Mr Malone also flagged there would be disruption for some builders as they operated with fewer staff on account of the mandate. “There’s impacts right across the board,” he said. “We’re going to do a survey on Monday to see how many worker’s we’ve lost across the industry.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the same leeway would apply to both the public and private sector. Picture: Julianne Osborne

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said “every job was essential”.

“We can’t have a situation where different jobs are being more important than others," Mr Bruce said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the government would take an “initial educational approach to enforcement”.

“There are a lot of employers out there who, for all their good will, may have not quite nailed it with the vaccine mandate yet,” Mr Gunner said.

“The same standards will apply to the public and the private sectors.”

Originally published as NT government’s grace period for workers to apply to both public and private sector workers