Charlotte Varcoe
MEMBER for Barker Tony Pasin has called for an inquiry into the reversal of mandatory vaccines for teachers and transport workers within South Australia despite an increase in Covid-19 numbers.
The backflip decision was announced last week and allowed about 204 teaching staff to come back to work while mandates remained in healthcare, aged or disability care, firefighters and forensic science staff.
Mr Pasin made the demand for the inquiry wanting to know the science behind the decision.
Speaking with 5AA Radio, Mr Pasin said the vaccine mandates, first implemented last year, were an attempt to “drive up vaccination rates by mandating them by stealth”.
He also claimed he was not sure the change was due to worker shortages and he wanted to “get to the bottom” of why the decision was made.
“I am struggling to understand the science that must be behind this decision and I think it is important we have a Commission of Inquiry to get to the bottom of how this decision was made in the first place,” Mr Pasin said.
“I am very pleased [the mandates] are lifted but I don’t think they should have been there in the first place.”
Mr Pasin said he remained supportive of mandated vaccinations for people working in health care services, yet he could not justify extending it to teachers, transport workers or contractors on school grounds.
South Australia Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton said the call for the inquiry was “good for getting a headline” yet was not going to change the State Government’s support from public health officials.
“We are constantly reviewing the situation within the State; we have set up the Emergency Management Council which meets on a weekly basis to look at all elements of Covid responses,” Mr Picton said.
“I certainly back the health professionals judgements over a politician who is searching for a headline and we here in South Australia now have a limited range of mandates which are consistent with the National Cabinet’s decision and supported by the Federal Liberal Government.
“Perhaps Mr Pasin should be raising his concern with his own Government with the inconsistency between what he is saying and what is being said from Canberra.”
Speaking on Mr Pasin’s comments about the mandated vaccinations being used to increase the vaccination numbers earlier in the pandemic, Mr Picton said there was no evidence behind the statement and that the decisions were made assessing the occupations where there was a key risk to the community.
“We need to make sure we are protecting staff but also those receiving care in those environments, and by making sure there are vaccinated staff, it allows us to make sure we reduce the potential spread and that everyone is kept safe,” he said.
“We will be continuing to take advice from the experts and people such as Mr Pasin will try to get headlines but I believe our chief health officer Nicola Spurrier and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens have served South Australia well.”
Mr Picton said there was strong evidence of the ethics and safety behind vaccinations for Covid and encouraged those needing vaccinations or boosters to step forward.
Mr Pasin was contacted by The Border Watch for comment.
