State Government keeps its word
Thousands of health workers lose their jobs
October 1, 2021
The NSW Health Minister Hon Brad Hazzard has previously advised that all those working in the public health system are required to vaccinate before September 30, 2021 or face termination of their employment. Unfortunately Hazzard has kept true to his word and thousands of hardworking and passionate health workers have been terminated as of yesterday.
Since 1977 it has been our Party Policy that responsible Australian adults have the right to choose their own form of medical treatment. I am confident that health workers have a well-informed knowledge and understanding of Covid-19 vaccinations and their informed right to vaccinate or not should be respected rather than scorned.
Hazzard stated yesterday “there won’t be a position available for them (unvaccinated health workers) in New South Wales. So it’s pretty simple – if you don’t care enough to get vaccinated and look after your colleagues, if you don’t care enough to look after your patients, then you probably shouldn’t be in the health system.” The Health Services Union Secretary Gerard Hayes said “There could be sort of 3,000-5,000 people who are not vaccinated. That will put pressure on the system. That’s across, I think, all of NSW. And, any loss of any health worker will put pressure on the system”.
The loss of thousands of experienced and passionate health workers across New South Wales will result in longer wait times in hospitals, understaffing across the sector, anxiety among their co-workers due to increased pressure and sadly avoidable deaths in hospital.
I call on the NSW Health Minister to reverse this terrible decision and respect the health workers who give their lives to saving others.
Yours faithfully,
Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC
CDP Parliamentary Leader
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