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| COVID-19: Update from WALGA President and CEO
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| IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
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In this issue...
Quick Links
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| COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Public Health Directions
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| The State Government’s mandatory vaccination policy is being implemented by the State Government through individually published Public Health Directions made under the Public Health Act 2016 (WA).
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The Government is currently releasing separate Public Health Directions for each of the occupations in Group 1 of the policy. The Public Health Directions restrict entry to certain facilities unless the person is appropriately vaccinated.
A list of all current Public Health Directions can be viewed here.
Directions for Group 2 occupations are expected to be released in mid-December.
It is critical that Local Governments read each of the Public Health Directions and determine whether they:
- operate any facility or site covered by the Public Health Directions, and
- have an obligation with respect to a person covered by the Public Health Directions (which may include employees, contractors and volunteers).
The relevant Group 1 Public Health Directions published to date which may apply to Local Governments are below.
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| For more information about the Directions, please email the COVID-19 response team.
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| Air Services and Border Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions (No 2)
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| On 16 November 2021 the Air Services and Border Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions (No 2) were published.
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These Public Health Directions provide a list of airports covered in Schedule 1 however, this list is not exhaustive. If your Local Government owns or operates an airport that is not on the list, you will still need to review the Directions to see if they cover your airport.
The Public Health Directions provide that a person who is an ‘air services worker’ must not enter an ‘airport’ if they have not received one COVID-19 vaccination by 1 December 2021, and if they have not received two vaccinations by 1 January 2022. We have set out some of the relevant definitions below.
Airport means an area of land or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and take-off of aircraft, and includes any aircraft, jetway or gangway (however described), terminal, baggage handling facility and other buildings or facilities on the land or water that are ancillary to or connected with the operation of the airport, and includes an airport listed in Schedule 1.
Aircraft means any vehicle for travelling by air, including a commercial aircraft or domestic aircraft.
Commercial aircraft means an aircraft that is flying or operating for a purpose referred to in paragraphs (b) or (c) of regulation 206(1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (Cth).
Domestic aircraft means any aircraft that is being used to transport passengers or carry freight or for training purposes, whether on a commercial basis or otherwise, but does not include an aircraft involved in the provision of emergency services.
Air services worker means:
(a) a person of the kind set out in Column 1 of the table in Schedule 2; or
(b) any other person specified to be an air services worker by the Chief Health Officer in writing or any person authorised by him for that purpose,
other than an exempt person (even if that exempt person falls within Column 1 of the table in Schedule 2) but does not include a border worker.
Column 1 of Schedule 2 includes a person who is an Aviation Security ID Card (ASIC) holder or Visitor Identification Card (VIC) holder, as well as ancillary staff such as cleaners, maintenance staff and security services staff.
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| The Directions can be viewed here.
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| Fire and Emergency Services Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions (No 2)
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| On 17 November 2021 a new version of the Fire and Emergency Services Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions (No 2) were released. The new version contains a minor change to the definition of ‘DBCA employee’.
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The Directions may affect some Local Governments who provide facilities relating to fire prevention, control or extinguishment activities and Local Government managed volunteers and employees who perform fire prevention, control and extinguishment activities.
The Directions can be viewed here.
Please also see WALGA's previous COVID-19 Communication regarding this Direction here.
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| Meat Industry Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions
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| On 10 November 2021 the Meat Industry Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions were released.
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| A meat industry worker is defined to include "A person who is a State Government or Local Government officer or employee to the extent that the person enters, and remains at, the meat industry site for the purpose of performing a statutory function under a law of the State."
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| The Directions can be viewed here.
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| Community Care Services Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions
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| On 8 November 2021 the Community Care Services Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions were released.
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| This may affect some Local Governments which own or operate a community care services facility or accommodation.
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| The Directions can be viewed here.
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| Templates for Employee Relations subscribers
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| WALGA has prepared resources for Employee Relations subscribers available from the WALGA website here - please note subscribers will be required to login to the website to view these resources.
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- Template letter for employees – Directing employee to comply with the directions (New)
- Template letter for employees – Preparing for mandatory vaccination directions
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| WALGA
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ONE70, LV1, 170 Railway Parade,
West Leederville, WA 6007
PO Box 1544, West Perth, WA 6872
Tel: (08) 9213 2000 | Fax: (08) 9213 2077
Email: covid@walga.asn.au
www.walga.asn.au
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| © Copyright Western Australian Local Government Association 2014
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