Senator Roberts calls for the National Cabinet to reverse its decision to force the COVID vaccine onto aged care workers.

Threats of a staff walk out against the vaccine is gathering momentum as NSW Health Services Union asks Governments to ensure the vaccine is voluntary.

Senator Roberts said, “My office has been flooded with calls and emails from aged care workers and many have said they will walk off the job before the September vaccination deadline.”

Members are approaching the union on a daily basis saying that they will walk out, leading to NSW Health Services Union Secretary Gerard Hayes voicing his concerns that the mandate could lead to ‘a major workforce crisis’ in the aged care sector.

The official advice on vaccines for expecting mothers has also ranged from caution to complete avoidance.

Senator Roberts added, “The government’s track record of inconsistent and confusing advice on the vaccine, which has bypassed Australian testing and gained the TGA’s provisional approval in an absurdly short period of time, it’s no wonder many people in the community are cautious.”

“Forcing people to choose between the mandated vaccine and a job – livelihood – is no way to address people’s concerns,” he said.

The government has provided indemnities to GP’s administering the vaccine and to vaccine manufacturers. 

Senator Roberts added, “If aged care employers aren’t willing to give an undertaking that they will compensate employees for any negative vaccine side affects how can any employee have confidence in this mandate?”

“Why should the Government not indemnify employers?”

“I support all Australians accessing their rightful informed consent regarding the vaccine. If we allow Governments to entrench a two-tier system of citizens based on vaccination status through mandatory edicts, this becomes a short path to medical tyranny,” he said.