Media release

South Australian businesses want wider vaccination mandate

Monday, 1 November 2021

The SA business community is calling on the State Government to extend the vaccination mandate to more industry sectors. This measure is to protect public-facing staff and work sites where it is not possible to be socially distanced. Despite the optimism of the State Government of South Australia, without these measures, it may be difficult to reach a 90% vaccination rate of the South Australian population.

In advance of the official release of the South Australian Business Chamber William Buck Survey of Business Expectations report, the South Australian Business Chamber Chief Executive Martin Haese says he welcomes the decision to open the borders on 23 November.

This announcement is excellent news for South Australian businesses, and the flow-on effect for the economy will be substantial.

When we officially release the South Australian Business Chamber William Buck Survey of Business Expectations September quarter results tomorrow, you will see what business confidence and conditions have been like across the state.

Part of the reason why South Australia has held it together so well during these challenging times is due to maintaining a connection between the employer and employee.

Yes, there have been labour shortages, and yes, the costs of materials have increased, but South Australian businesses remain confident about the future.

Without a broader industry vaccination mandate to give employers clarity and assist with reaching 90% double vaccination by Christmas, we risk losing South Australia’s key advantage of having led the country in managing the virus to date.

We recognise that not everyone will support a broader sector-specific vaccine mandate, but with over 80% of South Australia already having had their first dose, those in opposition are definitely in the minority.

The South Australian Business Chamber Director of Policy and Advocacy Andrew McKenna says that there are concerns about the absence of a broader Government vaccine mandate, particularly in industries with frontline staff and where social distancing is not possible.

The South Australian economy is built on the shoulders of small-to-medium-sized businesses, and they are the ones that are interacting daily with their staff. They don’t want to jeopardise that relationship by mandating vaccines in any additional sectors without a clear direction from the State Government.

We know that the experience of NSW and VIC businesses was that a government mandate significantly increased employee vaccination uptake in individual businesses – up to 98% in many cases.

The South Australian Business Chamber Willliam Buck Survey of Business Expectations is officially released tomorrow, Tuesday 2 November 2021.

Recent Articles
28 Mar 2024 | Media release
STATEMENT: China Wine Tariff Decision
26 Mar 2024 | Media release
Business calls for payroll tax reform in the state budget
27 Feb 2024 | Media release
Businesses treading water as cost pressures continue to bite
9 Feb 2024 | Media release
Introducing the South Australian Business Chamber
7 Feb 2024 | Media release
Support for parliamentary inquiry into payroll tax
8 Dec 2023 | Media release
Statement on potential Santos and Woodside merger