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ARTICLE · 24 JANUARY 2022

Consultation key ahead of work mandates

Mellor Olsson
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It was necessary for the employees to be properly informed and to be given a genuine opportunity to express their views.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Anthony Kelly
Anthony Kelly
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Having only written on mandatory vaccinations last month, this article was going to be on anything other than COVID, such as the findings of the Select Committee on Land Access. But COVID has a way of forcing itself back into focus.

BHP recently introduced a requirement of mandatory vaccinations for its employees at its Mt Arthur coal mine in NSW. Unvaccinated employees were unable to enter the site, resulting in a number of employees being stood down as they could not provide proof of vaccination.

This decision was challenged by the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union. The basis for this challenge was twofold, but centred on whether the mandate was 'legal and reasonable'.

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