Following recent judgements from the Queensland Supreme Court declaring COVID-19 vaccine mandates for police and ambulance staff unlawful, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth warned the Victorian government of potential lawsuits. The court ruled on a class action lawsuit against the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Ambulance Service, finding that their compulsory vaccine requirements breached the Human Rights Act and were thus unlawful. While the judge acknowledged the urgency of the pandemic, the rulings still raised important questions about the implications for other workers impacted by similar mandates.
In an interview with 9 News, Mr. Coatsworth noted that the rulings could lead to affected workers potentially getting their jobs back or pursuing civil proceedings and damages against the government under the Human Rights Act. He emphasized the need for government officials to consider human rights when making decisions and to balance these decisions against individual rights. Additionally, Mr. Coatsworth highlighted the importance for states like Victoria to be vigilant regarding potential lawsuits following the Queensland Supreme Court’s decision.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Victorian Labor government implemented strict vaccine mandates and pandemic rules that resulted in protests in Melbourne in 2021. These measures also led to the accumulation of a significant amount of debt, prompting the introduction of new taxes for repayment. Mr. Coatsworth’s comments were made in the context of a government inquiry where he expressed concerns about the excessive powers granted to state governments during the pandemic, suggesting that such powers should be reassigned to the federal government for more effective pandemic response strategies in the future.