COVID-19 vaccination
Mr LIMBRICK (South Eastern Metropolitan) (12:00): My question is for the Minister for Higher Education. I have been contacted by a number of university undergraduates and postgraduates who are currently facing expulsion from their universities due to vaccine mandate policies. Most students during the last two years did much of their work remotely, but some students, especially science students, require the use of labs and other facilities on campus. The government vaccine mandate orders thankfully were updated to allow unvaccinated students on campus to conduct activities such as these that could not be done remotely. However, many of the university policies appear to be ignoring this exception and not allowing unvaccinated students on campus at all. One wonders about the legality of this, as the legal power to use immunisation registry data is derived from the pandemic mandates. My question to the minister is: have you spoken with the universities about this issue and the serious consequences that it will have for many students?
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:01): I thank Mr Limbrick for his question. This matter has not been raised by the universities with me. A number of other things to do with COVID have, but in relation to this specific issue, no, it has not. In respect of this issue generally, can I say that it would be better directed to the Minister for Health than to me. That would be my suggestion.
Mr LIMBRICK (South Eastern Metropolitan) (12:02): I thank the minister for her answer. We have actually made inquiries with the Minister for Health, and they were directed to the Minister for Higher Education, so we are sort of not sure. I think we have had some constituents also contact both offices trying to get answers on this. My supplementary question is: will the minister commit to ensuring that university student vaccination policies driven by the government mandates at the very least reflect the intent of the mandates? That does not appear to be the case at the moment.
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:02): Mr Limbrick, thank you for your supplementary. In terms of questions about this, it is very clear from all ministers’ portfolio areas that when it comes to pandemic orders and clarification around them, they are to be directed to the Minister for Health. In relation to the matter that you have raised, I am happy to have a conversation with the Minister for Health in relation to the perceived inconsistencies I think that you are referring to.