To get back on the job site construction workers must provide evidence that they have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, or one dose of the vaccine at least three weeks before attending work, or one dose of the vaccine and, if less than three weeks since that vaccine was administered, a negative Covid-19 test in the previous 72 hours.
Mrs Lindsay joined State MP for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies, saying that now the whole state is locked down, the Public Health Orders must be changed to stop this discrimination against hardworking western and south-western Sydney workers.
They say vaccination requirements for tradies and construction workers in western/south-western Sydney are unrealistic and unfair, creating a divide between western/south-western Sydney and the rest of NSW.
Mrs Lindsay said it is ridiculous to demand that a tradie from Revesby must get vaccinated, when work mates in Cronulla and the eastern suburbs can be on the same worksite unvaccinated.
“The rules should be fair and consistent across the industry,” she said.
“There are many people in western and south-western Sydney that want to get the vaccine and get back to work, but in some instances can’t get a vaccine until October. That is two months of not being able to earn an income.
“If the NSW Government hasn’t forced NSW Health workers in any LGA to have a Covid vaccine, how can they force vaccines on our construction workers based on their postcodes to get back to work?”
Mrs Davies said the situation is desperate as people struggle to put food on the table.
“People have all but lost hope, as these discriminatory health orders unfairly target the hardworking people of western and south-western Sydney,” she said.
They have also urged the NSW Government to work with businesses who have already begun to trial rapid antigen testing, to see a broader rollout across the construction industry.
“This is a way forward to remove the obstacle currently being faced by our communities in western and south-western Sydney enabling workers to earn an income and provide for their families,” Mrs Davies said.
Under the current Public Health Orders, workers from quarantine facilities, transport providers and airports are required to have a Covid-19 vaccination before they can continue to work.
