Queensland Government Gives Businesses Go-Ahead To Prohibit Unvaccinated
Written originally by Jack Kerley 9 Dec. 2021.
Queensland is due to reopen their borders Dec. 13 following Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk finalised the states vaccine mandate which gives businesses to ability to prohibit individuals based on vaccination status.
Beginning Dec. 17, you must be fully vaccinated in order to work anywhere in Queensland. You must also be vaccinated to visit hospitals and venues in the state, the Project reported.
Small Business Minister Di Farmer stated that the mandate doesn’t yet include essential services like grocery stores however all private businesses have the opportunity to opt into the governments mandate if they choose, the West Australian reported.
“You will see the big green tick … if there is a big green tick and you are not vaccinated, then you are not to enter those premises,” said Farmer.
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“If a person decides not to be vaccinated, then those are the things that they will take into consideration,” Farmer said, “We accept that this is a serious emergency which requires responses in relation to civil liberties that in normal times we would not accept.”
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath announced a slew of new guidelines for Queensland including critical information like which businesses are and are not exempt from the mandates, the Australian reported.
D’Ath also said that new health directives may be less strict for businesses that opt in and comply once the borders open on Monday, The Northern Beaches Review reported.
Queensland recorded one new COVID-19 case and stays at seven COVID-19 deaths ahead of these changes.
79.11 per cent of Queenslanders over 16 are vaccinated with 87.53 per cent having at least one, the Project reported.