The ABC Australia reports
South Australia’s industrial relations court has thrown out a bid by a nurse to continue working while not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
Key points:
- No new COVID-19 deaths were reported in SA today
- A nurse wanted her opposition to the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers treated as an industrial dispute
- The employment tribunal president said SA Health was just following the law
The decision comes four days ahead of a Supreme Court challenge against the same regulations that require healthcare workers to have an approved vaccine against the coronavirus.
The South Australian Employment Tribunal action brought by nurse Joanne Teague claimed her employer — the state government — changed her terms of employment unlawfully, causing an industrial dispute that could be heard by the court.
The other challenge, led by former Adelaide Crows player and nurse Deni Varnhagen, claims the state’s vaccination requirements are invalid because they should have been debated and passed by parliament rather than enforced by regulation.
South Australia recorded 3,724 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday — down on Friday and Thursday — but no deaths.
Ms Teague, who worked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, was informed of the vaccination requirement on October 7 last year but refused to get vaccinated by November 1.
She was initially on paid leave and then went on unpaid leave.
She filed a notice of an industrial dispute on November 24.
She said her employment contract did not allow her to be “furloughed” — on leave without pay — which was therefore a breach of her contract.
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