By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council employees who cannot produce a COVID-19 vaccination certificate by the end of January may face losing their jobs.
A council spokesperson said that in October, the state government mandated all Victorian council workers must be double-vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The spokesperson said that Wyndham staff who are not fully vaccinated have been prohibited from attending council workplaces.
Council employees who could not produce a vaccination certificate by Wednesday last week (December 15) have been placed on leave.
“Those arrangements will be reviewed in January and if staff cannot produce their vaccination certificate by 31 January, Wyndham city will actively consider whether their employment will continue,” the spokesperson said.
The council last month voted that any councillor who failed to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination to the mayor and chief executive by December 2 would be encouraged to take a leave of absence.
However, Cr Marcel Mahfoud – who is unvaccinated – said he was not planning on taking a leave of absence.
Cr Mahfoud, who has been attending municipal meetings remotely via a computer screen, said he would continue carrying out his council duties in a virtual capacity until he could receive a Novavax vaccine.
The Novavax vaccine against COVID-19 has not yet been approved for use in Australia.
Cr Mahfoud said he attended a Melbourne protest last month against the Victorian vaccine mandates and the state government’s pandemic bill.
“I am not against the vaccinations but am against the mandates and coercion,” he said.
“As Australians, we have always had a right to what medical treatments we receive.”
The council has written to the Local Government Minister Shaun Leane, seeking advice on why mandatory vaccine requirements requiring state parliamentarians to be vaccinated, or face suspension from their roles, have not been extended to Victorian councillors.
Speaking at a council meeting held on November 30, Cr Mia Shaw said it would be “hypocritical” for councillors to not be vaccinated.
Cr Heather Marcus said she believed that as leaders of the city, all councillors should be fully vaccinated.
