By email only: daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au & officeof | VICTORIA FREEDOM KEEPERS

By email only: daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au & officeofcho@health.vic.gov.au         
                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                 URGENT
 
To The Honourable Premier Daniel Andrews & Dr Brett Sutton
 
Withdrawal of the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Directions (No 2)
 
We refer to the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Directions (No 2) (Directions). We understand the Directions apply to workers in both residential aged care facilities and on construction sites.
 
We also understand the Directions place the onus squarely on the Operator, in this case, the Principal Contractor.
 
Intention of this letter
 
The intention of this letter is to make clear the demands of Members of the Victorian Construction Industry (Members) with respect to the Directions.
 
Members have one simple demand, withdraw the Mandatory Vaccinations Directions (No 2).
 
In addition, Members ask that -
 
1. Persons in the Victorian Construction Industry (Industry) who want to be vaccinated can attend to doing so at their discretion, as appointments become available. The Victorian Government should focus on prioritising these persons.
 
2. Persons in the Industry who do not want to be vaccinated should be able to do so without consequence, or threat to their employment in the Industry or as a whole.
 
3. Members have the opportunity to work with the Victorian Government and Industry leaders to continue to implement COVID-Safe practices to create a safe work environment and protect the wider Victorian community. Industry Covid-Safe practices, which are world’s best practice and are practices other industries have sought to adopt, have served to keep the Industry and Victorian community safe throughout the previous 18 months of this pandemic.
 
4. The Victorian Government accepts this as an invitation from Members of the Industry to discuss and explore further measures which can be taken by the Industry to improve safety measures in response to COVID-19 as required.
 
 
Conclusion

Members ask that you withdraw the COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Directions (No 2) for the Industry.
 
Members invite you to work together with key Industry leaders and workers to create a considered approach to keeping the Industry COVID-safe without the implementation of mandatory vaccination on its workers.
 
Yours faithfully