The Queensland Supreme Court has found that a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for emergency workers was unlawful.
The mandate required frontline workers in the state, like police and paramedics, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by early 2022.
A group of frontline staff challenged that requirement over claims it was discriminatory.
This week, a judge ruled the mandate was a human rights breach.
Queensland COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Qld Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll issued a vaccine mandate order for frontline workers in 2021 during the state’s Delta outbreak.
The following year, dozens of Qld police and ambulance workers launched legal action against the mandate.
This week, the court found the Commissioner’s order to be invalid, because it breached part of the Human Rights Act.
Response
The decision gives new protections to staff members who didn’t comply with the mandates.
The judge ordered a stop to any disciplinary action that may be ongoing against workers who did not get vaccinated to comply with the mandate.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) acknowledged the outcome and said it “will carefully consider the judgement and our options moving forward”.
