The Department of Home Affairs has rejected a report in the Canberra Times earlier this month claiming it wasn’t supporting Australian Border Force (ABF) marine officers to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.
In a statement, the Department said the article Border Force should better protect staff from Covid: Community and Public Sector Union was in error.
It said it worked closely with the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) to resolve matters relating to the COVID-19 pandemic arrangements for staff to receive vaccinations, including marine officers.
“The Department does not support the provision of miscellaneous paid leave to marine staff to attend for vaccinations, as it would not be in line with community expectations or on par with arrangements for staff in other industries in Phase 1A,” the Department said.
“Time off in lieu, including reasonable travel time is provided to all staff in Phase 1A and 1B,” it said.
“Communication with staff is timely and comprehensive, and provided to the CPSU to ensure they are informed on how the Department is managing staffing matters during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Department said it strongly encouraged staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and provided support to all employees in Phase 1A and 1B to obtain a vaccination during work time where it was possible to do so.
“The Department acknowledges that the statement provided to the Canberra Times included the line ‘there is no TGA-approved rapid test that is clinically appropriate for use in the marine operating environment’ in error,” it said.
“In fact, the Department of Health approved for the Department to use COVID-19 testing equipment for purposes in the maritime environment.”
It said it had a COVID-19 Testing Procedural Instruction that managed the risk of COVID-19 where testing may be clinically appropriate and urgently required for both clients and staff within maritime environments.
The Department said the ABF had appropriate COVID-19 testing capability available at sea for some of its vessels, however, some vessels couldn’t use the testing devices because their size didn’t provide the level of stability required to fit them.
“The Department continues to work on a case-by-case basis with staff that are required to complete self-isolation or quarantine due to State and Territory health orders, including implementing working-from-home arrangements when border restrictions have prevented officers from being able to deploy,” it said.
The Department said it had proactively facilitated priority testing when necessary, and State and Territory health authorities didn’t currently require staff returning from patrol to be tested for COVID-19.
