Annastacia Palaszczuk has copped a huge backlash after announcing a sweeping Covid vaccine mandate for tens of thousands of workers in Queensland - mirroring similar outcries in other states.
Ms Palaszczuk told Queensland parliament this morning that Covid vaccine jabs will be compulsory for all workers at state and private schools, child care centres, prisons and youth detention complexes and airports.
Workers in those 'high-risk settings' will need to have received one dose of vaccine by December 17 and be fully vaccinated by January 23.
The announcement brought Queensland into line with similar mandates in NSW and Victoria, but many Queenslanders are already up in arms about the directive.
The Independent Education Union, which represents staff in non-government schools, quickly issued a press release saying it is seeking discussions with employers on issues raised by the government directive, such as genuine medical exemptions, privacy protections, and support for employees who seek leave or redeployment as a result of the mandate.
Covid vaccine jabs will be compulsory for all workers at state and private schools, child care centres, prisons and youth detention complexes and airports in Queensland
Online comments on Ms Palaszczuk's Facebook post revealed many Queenslanders took issue with the premier's reasoning that the school workers' mandate was necessary to protect unvaccinated students.
'Children are not vulnerable to Covid. This mandate is disgusting,' wrote one woman, reflecting a common refrain.
'We've been managing to keep our kids safe quite well, thanks very much, without your damaging injections,' another person posted.
Others thought the move was overdue, given similar mandates have existed in NSW and Victoria for the past couple of months.
'This is fantastic news!! Especially in special schools where there are so many high risk children,' posted on mother.
Many people expressed concern at a likely shortage of staff in schools, childcare centres and youth detention facilities due to imposition of the mandate.
'We already have a shortage of staff in all those areas yet you go ahead and create a further shortage?' one person said.
'Who is going to teach our children? Nurses are already struggling to support our health care system due to the mandatory vaccine, now our children will suffer because teachers won't be able to teach and stood down indefinitely… chaos,' stated another.
Many people expressed concern at a likely shortage of staff in schools, childcare centres and youth detention facilities due to imposition of the mandate
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the sweeping Covid vaccine mandate for thousands of workers in the parliament on Tuesday morning
'While children cannot access the vaccination, it is important those around them take every step they can to prevent the virus spreading in schools and early childhood centres,' Ms Palaszczuk said in announcing the new vaccine rules.
'Airports are the gateway to the virus entering Queensland and there are vulnerable people in our corrections systems.'
Ms Palaszczuk defended the move as 'consistent with other states and territories such as New South Wales and Victoria'.
Vaccine mandates in Victoria have sparked waves of protests.
In October, weekly protests were held against the mandates announced by Dan Andrews who said all authorised workers would be required to get a Covid jab by October 15 with police, teachers and professional athletes needing their second dose by November 26.
Other workers required to get jabbed to stay in a job include cleaners, farmers, retail workers, personal trainers, spa workers.
A month earlier in September a series of protests were held after an announcement that construction workers were required to be vaccinated to keep their jobs.
The clashes were perhaps the most violent seen with protesters hurling projectiles, scores of arrests and lines of police in riot gear deploying pepper-spray.
