Teacher alleges ‘coercion, human rights breaches’ in Covid jab fight
A Far North Queensland teacher who once saved drowning teens from a croc-infested river has appealed a punishment that included the slashing of wages and reprimand after refusing the Covid jab.
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A Cassowary Coast teacher who once saved drowning teens from a croc-infested river has appealed a punishment that included the slashing of wages and reprimand after refusing the Covid jab.
Innisfail State College teacher Shane Radanovic was among the 900 Queensland educators who resisted a government-mandated direction to submit to Covid vaccinations in 2022.
Mr Radanovic claimed he should be exempt from the jab because of a possible anaphylactic reaction to vaccination, court documents have revealed.
On August 1, 2022, Mr Radanovic was advised that he had contravened a direction without reasonable excuse and that the government was considering whether to impose disciplinary action, including a temporary pay cut and a reprimand.
It claimed Mr Radanovic was advised of his appeal rights however the teacher did not appeal that decision.
In response to that advice Mr Radanovic on August 8 filed an argument that stated he had already been suspended for a period without pay and he qualified for a Covid jab exemption.
His submissions also alluded to various human rights breaches, personal trauma, and that he was a recognised school leader.
He also relied on mitigating factors including the awarding of Group Bravery Citation in 2018 by the Queensland Police Service after leaping into the crocodile infested Johnstone River to save two teenagers from drowning.
In an appeal lodged with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission Mr Radanovic fought a decision to impose a temporary wage reduction of 18 weeks and a reprimand imposed on August 22.
Earlier this year Mr Radanovic was issued with a direction calling on the teacher to outline why the commission should hear his appeal.
His submission relied on various worker court battles with government agencies and he requested that scientific data proving the efficacy of vaccines be revealed while claiming he did not receive a court order requiring him to be vaccinated.
He also made a series of other submissions alleging coercion, human rights breaches while challenging the need of vaccines and the safety they provide.
Industrial Commissioner John Dwyer in his judgement released last week stated Mr Radanovic’s submissions about the risk and effectiveness of the vaccine were irrelevant to a decision in relation to penalty.
“To the extent that Mr Radanovic alleges that he was coerced, I find firstly, that is not relevant to a decision in relation to penalty and secondly, that the submission is misconceived,” Mr Dwyer wrote.
The Industrial Commissioner outlined an extensive list of reasons why he declined to hear Mr Radanovic’s appeal.
Originally published as Teacher alleges ‘coercion, human rights breaches’ in Covid jab fight
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