As the Australian Government continues rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine, AREEA is guiding its resources and energy industry members through the workplace implications and advocating for a nationally coordinated approach.

On June 28, National Cabinet met to discuss the latest COVID-19 outbreaks and delivered its first vaccination mandate for all residential aged care workers as a condition of working in aged care facilities.

Importantly for AREEA members, the National Cabinet also agreed to work with the resources and air transport industries to ensure there are appropriate control measures for resources sector FIFO employees when travelling to and from work.

The Australian Government also acknowledged the industry’s incredible response to the global pandemic and the measures that employers have implemented to control the spread of the virus both at the work sites and the communities in which they operate.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has been tasked with providing further advice on any requirements, such as mandating vaccinations in certain sectors, potentially including resources and air transport.

“I’ve said it before the resources sector has responded incredibly well during the COVID-19 pandemic and the way they run their facilities and they’re very used to health and safety procedures, the health and safety officers on site and I’ve seen that myself as I’ve gone through on some of the biggest mines in the country,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

“So we will just sit down with them to ensure that we have those processes as strong as they possibly can be. And the AHPPC will come back and make any further recommendations they think are necessary. ”

Last Thursday the Government, employer groups and unions came together to discuss how they can work together to support the COVID-19 vaccination rollout to millions of Australians at a roundtable hosted by the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Health.

“Recognising that every business is different and has different capability, employer peaks committed to encouraging their members to have regular conversations with their workers in line with government health advice, the Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said.

“These conversations will cover how to best support employees and make it as easy as possible for those who choose to get the vaccine to get it when it is their turn, whether this is by providing access to paid or unpaid leave, flexible hours or otherwise.”

The employer groups included the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Australia and Council of Small Business Organisations Australia.

AREEA is a member of the Australian Chamber of Commerce.

National Cabinet confirms next phases for COVID-19 response

The National Cabinet also met last week for the 45th time to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.

It was agreed to formulate a National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID Response from its current pre vaccination settings, focussing on continued suppression of community transmission, to post vaccination settings focussed on prevention of serious illness, hospitalisation and fatality, and the public health management of other infectious diseases.

National Cabinet agreed in-principle that the plan consists of the following phases, each triggered by the achievement of vaccination thresholds expressed as a percentage of the eligible population (16+), based on the scientific modelling currently being conducted for the COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Task Force.

Guidance on workplace vaccination is available from Safe Work Australia and the Fair Work Ombudsman.

AREEA Member Guide – Workplace and workforce implications

To support members in this area AREEA has prepared a COVID-19 Vaccine Member Guide which provides updates on key developments with the vaccine roll-out and other workplace considerations.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Member Guide includes:

• Working towards a unified industry position on vaccination requirements
• Guidance on establishing your position on whether employees require vaccinations
• How to assess whether certain sections of the workforce should be vaccinated
• Support for managing employees who are unable to be vaccinated
• Other important considerations for resources and energy employers

AREEA will continue to update its members on material developments in relation to the COVID-19 vaccines and will circulate updated editions of this Member Guide as necessary.

For your copy of the guide, or to be put in touch with your local workplace relations specialist for answers to any questions about vaccinations for your organisation, please contact 1800 627 771 or email [email protected]