The State Government has announced extended mandatory vaccination rules that will cover 75 per cent of the WA workforce — more than 1 million workers — with penalties of up to $100,000 for businesses that don’t comply.

Premier Mark McGowan said the overarching mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy would be rolled out in a phased approach to a majority of occupations and workforces within WA.

The policy strengthens current mandates and covers the next groups of industries to be mandated, as well as a requirement for other critical workers to be vaccinated to be permitted to work in the event of a lockdown or similar restrictions.

Read more: CCIWA releases COVID-19 vaccine guide for business

The Premier said employees would be required to provide evidence of vaccination to employers, who would need to maintain these records, with spot checks to be carried out.

Penalties for non-compliance will be up to $100,000 for employers and up to $20,000 for individual employees, he said.

However, the Premier said industry roundtables would be held ahead of the “considered and phased implementation”.

“WA needs to be prepared for community transmission — by mandating our essential and critical workforces we can maintain services, and businesses can continue to operate safely in the long term,” he said

“It’s vital people can continue working should community transmission or a lockdown occur, so that delivery of critical services is not disrupted.”

Read more: The mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations list.

Group 1:

First dose by December 1, 2021 and fully vaccinated by December 31, 2021:

• Industries determined to have high transmission risk, or are a vulnerability risk or are necessary or critical to the safety of the community
• A number of these industries have been announced previously and are currently in the process of implementation
• New occupations added to this list include border control and air transport workers; staff working in or entering remote Aboriginal communities; staff working in residential and non-residential community care services; corrections workers; remaining WA Police; mission Critical DFES (excluding volunteers); and abattoirs and meat processing facilities.

Group 2:

First dose by December 31, 2021 and fully vaccinated by January 31, 2022:

• Industries and workforce deemed critical to ongoing delivery of business and the function of the community
• Mandating requirement in place to ensure the continuity of key services and businesses in the event of expected community transmission.
• Businesses in this category include: supermarket, hospitality industry, hardware stores, child care facilities, schools, banks, petrol stations, commercial transport include taxis and rideshare, hotels, building, maintenance or construction services and remaining port operators and commercial transport or logistics.

All school staff will require a double dose prior to the start of Term 1.

Lockdown:

Must be fully vaccinated to attend work during a lockdown or similar restrictions:

• These critical workers must be fully vaccinated to leave home to attend work, to decrease transmission risk and prevent impact on the delivery of services.

Groups 1 and 2 represent approximately 60 per cent of Western Australia’s workforce. With the addition of the lockdown group, approximately 75 per cent of the WA workforce is accounted for.

Currently, 73.6 per cent of WA’s eligible population aged 12 years and over have received at least one dose, with 55.2 per cent fully vaccinated.

CCIWA CEO Chris Rodwell was amongst industry leaders briefed by the Government this morning ahead of the Premier’s announcement.

“Talking about reopening is academic unless we get vaccinated in greater numbers,” Rodwell said.

“Ultimately that’s what business needs if we want to reopen our economy to other states and the world. That’s critical for WA businesses to compete interstate and internationally.”

He added: “We will be working through the detail with our members.”

To book a COVID-19 vaccine, visit Roll up for WA.

CCIWA’s COVID-19 site has up-to-date information about the pandemic’s impacts on WA business.

For advice and guidance call CCIWA’s Employee Relations Advice Centre on (08) 9365 7660, or email [email protected].