ABC News Australia
Hundreds of former and current police officers and staff members have launched a class action lawsuit against the state government and the Queensland Police Service, over its COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
The lawsuit, filed in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Friday, is being funded by billionaire Clive Palmer.
It comes after the Queensland Supreme Court ruled that COVID-19 mandates breached the human rights laws of some frontline workers.
In his written decision in February, Justice Glenn Martin ruled the directives breached section 58 of the Human Rights Act, which stated that all public service employees must give proper consideration to human rights before making a decision, and that they must act and make decisions that are compatible with human rights.
However, Justice Martin did not find mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations were contrary to the HRA, but that the directions were issued unlawfully.
Mr Palmer had also confirmed he funded that legal action at the time, which he said cost between $2-3 million.
It’s not known how much supporting this lawsuit has cost the mining magnate.
Solicitor, Justin Sibley, who is leading the class action, said the COVID vaccine mandates were “coercive,” and limited officers’ human rights.
“What we’re saying is that the coercive mandates were put in by the commissioner of police,” Mr Sibley said.
“Which created terrible duress and influence on the police officers and staff members, to try and coerce them into being vaccinated, and has caused damage to them as a result.”
He said there were three groups within the class action, spearheaded by three plaintiffs.
One group complied with vaccine mandates, the second sought medical exemptions but were denied and were then vaccinated, and the third group did not get vaccinated and were suspended or terminated.
Mr Sibley said some of those who did not get vaccinated went without pay for more than two years, and have suffered as a result.
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-25/police-class-action-queensland-government-covid-vaccine-mandate/104518776