Skip to main content

Huge push for Australians to get half a day's paid leave to go and get vaccinated against Covid as the country battles a growing new cluster

In a bid to turbo charge the slow pace of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, unions are calling on the NSW and Commonwealth governments to provide a minimum half day of paid leave for workers to get the jab.  

Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said NSW government was the nation's largest employer and Premier Gladys Berejiklian could lead the way by introducing 'vax leave' for all public servants.

'She can instruct all department heads to provide a half day of paid 'vax leave' to the one in ten NSW workers who are employed by her Government,' he said.  

Unions are calling on the NSW and Commonwealth governments to provide a minimum half day of paid leave for workers to get the jab

Unions are calling on the NSW and Commonwealth governments to provide a minimum half day of paid leave for workers to get the jab

He says the premier should make the case for vaccination leave at national cabinet and push to have it funded for all casual and contract workers as well as making it a right for all permanent employees.

'Every barrier and impediment to vaccination must be removed as soon as possible,' he said on Monday

'There are many things slowing the vaccine rollout, but one element is the cost of missing work, especially for people who are insecurely employed and on modest incomes.'

'Why are we creating more barriers to vaccination?

Ms Berejiklian could instruct all department heads to provide a half day of paid 'vax leave' to the one-in-10 NSW workers who are public servants, he said.

And the federal government could cover the cost of a half day of pay for people in industries where many workers were casuals such as transport, care and food delivery.

'The current Sydney outbreak stems back to an unvaccinated Bondi limousine airport driver. Rather than blaming these workers, perhaps it's time to make it easier and more attractive to get vaccinated,' he said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian could instruct all department heads to provide a half day of paid 'vax leave' to the one-in-10 NSW workers who are public servants

Premier Gladys Berejiklian could instruct all department heads to provide a half day of paid 'vax leave' to the one-in-10 NSW workers who are public servants 

More than 7 million doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca Covid vaccine have been administered in Australia. Pictured: Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino receives his second Pfizer vaccination

More than 7 million doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca Covid vaccine have been administered in Australia. Pictured: Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino receives his second Pfizer vaccination

More than 7 million doses of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca Covid vaccine have been administered in Australia. 

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said Sunday was a challenging day for Australia during the latest Sydney outbreak, while Labor emphasised the government's failures in establishing permanent quarantine facilities and procuring vaccines.

'The Morrison Government had two jobs this year - effective national quarantine and the rollout of the vaccine, and they have failed both,' Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told reporters.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

EXCLUSIVE: From a $US13million mansion to a caravan: How the Australian wife of Il Divo singer has been 'forced' to live in a dodgy trailer park after a wildfire burned down their house during a bitter divorce battle

'Forced' into a 'mobile home park': Renee Izambard (nee Murphy) with her estranged husband, the suave Il Divo opera singer Sebastien Izambard An Il Divo opera singer's estranged Australian wife claims she was 'forced' to live in a caravan park after their $US12.95million Malibu mansion burned down in a wildfire days just after she filed for divorce.  Details of one-time Sydney Sony Music executive Renee Izambard's new life after her messy split with French tenor Sebastien Izambard were laid bare in a lawsuit filed with a Californian court this week. Ms Izambard (nee Murphy) is suing insurer State Farm, her estranged husband, an insurance agent and up to 20 others, over an allegedly 'inadequate' policy which covered the couple's destroyed former Malibu home.  Their five bedroom residence - described as a 'no expense spared ... oasis' - and its two guest houses went up in flames on November 8, 2018 during California's devastating Wo...

The HS2 money pit: Ministers are told first stage of high-speed rail line may cost another £800m... six months after a budget increase saw total costs soar by £20.6bn to £43billion

Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. It comes just six months after a budget increase saw total predicted costs for the first stage of the high-speed line soar by £20.6billion to £43billion. In a written statement to Parliament, HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said half of this figure is due to preparation of the route for construction involving 'more significant challenges than anticipated'. This includes the need to remove more asbestos than expected. Another 'significant cost pressure' worth £400 million has also been identified during the development of designs for Euston station. Mr Stephenson warned that further investigation is being carried out which 'could identify further pressure'. Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. Pictured: HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson The HS2 route would initially link London and...

Tests may spare school bubbles from isolating: Children could avoid disruption to lessons by being screened for Covid more often under new proposal

Ministers will explore whether children could take more Covid tests instead of self-isolating to minimise disruption to their schooling. Sajid Javid said he was seeking ‘fresh advice’ on the current policy, which sees up to 250,000 pupils miss school every day. He revealed he would discuss the subject with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson after MPs expressed concerns about children being kept at home for ten days – even after a negative PCR test – because a member of their classroom bubble has been infected. It came as the Children’s Commissioner told how pupils had experienced ‘real trauma’ during successive lockdowns. Sajid Javid said he was seeking ‘fresh advice’ on the current policy where children self-isolate, which sees up to 250,000 pupils miss school every day Dame Rachel de Souza described the class bubble system as ‘very very restrictive’, adding: ‘I think everybody would like it if we could get back to normal, as soon as possible.’ Former health minister Steve Brine tol...