But the approach does not mean vaccinations can be mandated across the community,as Prime Minister Scott Morrison warns against mandating by “stealth” through any change in the law to make the coronavirus jabs compulsory.
The new guidance to business means employers should be able to act on the information if workers tell them they have not been vaccinated and therefore might pose a risk to customers and fellow staff.
One response would be to move workers away from duties where they are facing customers or interacting with others,reducing the risk that those who are not vaccinated could spread COVID-19 in the workplace.
Business leaders are frustrated,however,at Mr Morrison’s decision to avoid anychanges to legislation or regulation to provide greater authority and clarity to employers who want to strongly encourage workers to get vaccinated,even if it is not compulsory.
“The vaccination program in Australia is free and it is not mandatory. That is a very important principle,” Mr Morrison said on Monday.
“We are not going to seek to impose a mandatory vaccination program by the government by stealth. That is not what we’re going to do. There are already existing powers that employers have,both in terms of lawful directions,reasonable directions to their employees.”
“Equally,business owners have property rights in terms of who they can allow to come in and out of their premises. Those property rights,those authorities that they have for their employees,already exist.”