COVID-19 vaccination
Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:21): (198) My question is for the Minister for Emergency Services. As the minister would already be aware, the firefighters alliance has been trying to get an answer from the minister regarding the inability to return to work due to the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Since we are no longer under pandemic emergency law, this requirement is redundant and the alliance would like to see it revoked. Therefore my question is: will the minister respond to the alliance’s request to have the requirement removed as a WHS requirement?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:21): I thank Mrs Tyrrell for her question and her representation on behalf of the firefighters alliance. At the outset, it is not my answer to give because it is not my responsibility as minister. These are matters for the FRV commissioner as it is an operational matter and certainly not subject to a direction that I can give. I had previously been advised that FRV would have returned to community settings by now. My most recent advice is that that is still the plan and it is shortly to occur. In relation to the individuals that were stood down – no-one’s employment has been terminated at FRV; certain individuals have been stood down – there is a process that is being undertaken, and some of them have been permitted to return to work. More broadly that is a matter that is under current consideration by the FRV commissioner. He will alert me to any changes, and I will let you know as soon as that advice comes through.