Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman has denied there was a directive across the department preventing vaccine-reluctant workers from being able to rejoin the system after the COVID-19 jab mandate was lifted.
The mandate ended in September last year, meaning about 1200 workers who were dismissed or resigned for non-compliance would be able to re-apply for roles.
But emails have surfaced showing some former workers were told they couldn’t apply for another job, despite the vaccine mandate being scrapped.
Fentiman denied there was a directive.
“There is no barrier, there is no directive in place,” Fentiman said.
The minister is now ordering all hiring teams across the health services to be on the same page.
“There are 100,000 Queensland Health staff,” she said.
“Some of them will make mistakes and get the information wrong.
“All I can do, and all the director-general can do, is reiterate the government’s policy.”
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said frontline staff were at breaking point.
“Can you imagine what frontline staff feel like when that occurs?” he said.
Fewer than 40 workers who were sacked or resigned after the restrictions have returned to Queensland Health.
