The health minister for Queensland, Shannon Fentiman, has refuted reports that a department-wide directive prevented employees who refused the COVID-19 vaccination requirement from reentering the workforce.
The obligation expired in September of last year, allowing the approximately 1,200 employees who were fired or quit due to non-compliance to reapply for jobs.
Despite the repeal of the vaccination obligation, emails have surfaced revealing that some former employees were informed they could not apply for another position.
Fentiman refuted the existence of a command.
“No obstacle exists, and no directive is in effect,” stated Fentiman.
The minister is now directing that there be coordination across all hiring teams within the health services.
“There are 100,000 Queensland Health staff,” she stated.
“A few of them will err and provide inaccurate information.
“All I can do, and all the director-general can do, is reiterate the government’s policy.”
Frontline employees, according to Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, were near breaking point.
“Can you imagine what frontline staff feel like when that occurs?” he asked.
Queensland Health has received back less than forty employees who were let go or quit following the limitations.
