Qld politics: Vaccine mandates fuel 1000pc increase in public service sackings

Nearly 1000 Queensland public servants were sacked in 2021-22, up from fewer than 100 in the previous year, it can be revealed.

The number of Queensland public servants who were sacked from their jobs has surged by almost 1000 per cent in a single year – with the introduction of vaccine mandates playing a big role.

The Courier-Mail can reveal there were 915 terminations across the Queensland public service in 2021-22 – up from only 84 the year before.

The state’s Public Sector Commission has confirmed 807 of the terminations in 2021-22 were due to noncompliance with mandatory vaccine requirements for employees working in high-risk settings.

The jump in terminations also came amid a big increase in the number of work performance matters that were recorded in the Queensland public service.

The 10,915 work performance matters logged in 2021-22 was up 174 per cent from the 3973 recorded the year before.

About 67.5 per cent of the matters last financial year were due to employees not complying with Covid-19 vaccine requirements.

The Education Department recorded 6359 work performance matters, and another 509 were recorded in Queensland Corrective Services, while 498 were logged at the Queensland Ambulance Service.

The Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service also recorded 308 work performance matters in 2021-22, while 242 were logged in the Metro South Hospital and Health Service and 229 in Metro North.

A public servant outside Brisbane’s tower of power

In a statement, Public Sector Commissioner Robert Setter insisted the overwhelming majority of public servants did the right thing, saying almost 99 per cent met or exceeded expectations.

“There were only 108 terminations, or less than 0.05 per cent of the public sector workforce, relating to non-Covid issues,” he said.

The Public Sector Commission said it did not collect data about payout or separation payments as part of its conduct and performance data.

However, it pointed out employees were entitled to a payout of accrued entitlements – such as annual leave – when they were terminated.

Of the 10,915 workplace matters in 2021-22, no further action was taken in 55 per cent of cases, while 31 per cent of matters resulted in discipline.

More than 70 per cent of the matters were also classed as a category 3a, which – according to the Queensland government website – involves serious neglect of duties and performance or serious misconduct that does not align with the code of conduct.

About 212 of the matters were in the most serious category 3b, which involve breaches of criminal law.

The relevant government departments and agencies finalised 69 per cent of the matters within benchmark time frames.

“Benchmark time frames are set as a guide for public sector agencies,” Mr Setter said.

“The responsibility for managing matters sits with each agency.

“Matters not addressed within the benchmark time frames are often complex, dependent on internal and external factors, and can include formal investigations and review.”

Originally published as Qld politics: Vaccine mandates fuel 1000pc increase in public service sackings