Unvaccinated Firefighters Allowed to Return to Work in NSW

Firefighters in the Australian state of NSW may soon be able to return to saving lives ahead of the summer bushfire season.

Fire and Rescue personal run to move their truck as a bushfire burns next to a major road and homes on the outskirts of the town of Bilpin in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 19, 2019. David Gray/Getty Images

Firefighters in New South Wales (NSW) who elected not to take the COVID-19 vaccination may finally be able to return to extinguishing fires.

The emergency workers have reportedly received a letter from Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) informing them they can go back to work.

Unvaccinated firefighters have been unable to perform their duties protecting the community from fires for nearly two years due to a COVID-19 vaccine mandate policy.

Australian Firefighters Alliance National Director Steve McDonald said the processes have been put in place for the firefighters to come back to work.

“We’ve been given information that the return to work processes have been put in place and all those firefighters that have been stood down will be coming back,” he told 2GB radio.

“Hopefully within the next few weeks, but no official date has been given yet.”

Mr. McDonald said the news is “a little bit bittersweet” because the alliance has been led to believe Fire and Rescue News still plan to pursue “misconduct findings” against firefighters who have not complied with the mandate initially.

“This is very disappointing for the Australian Firefighters alliance given what these firefighters have gone through over the last two years,” he said.

Mr. McDonald has been fighting against the vaccine mandates, along with some of his colleagues, for nearly two years.

Fire and Rescue NSW Responds

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesperson confirmed to The Epoch Times that the the COVID-19 vaccination policy would be replaced with a broader vaccination policy.

“FRNSW has undertaken the following transition in relation to COVID-19: From 11 Oct. 2023, replacing the COVID-19 vaccination requirements policy with a holistic vaccination requirements policy, covering the range of vaccinations that are required for various FRNSW workgroups (based on risk),” the spokesperson told The Epoch Times. 

In relation to “workplace conduct” of the unvaccinated, Fire and Rescue NSW indicated this issue would be resolved soon.

“Workplace conduct matters in relation to staff who were not compliant with the previous COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements Policy will be finalised shortly and where appropriate, return to work arrangements will be facilitated and supported,” the spokesperson said. 

The agency highlighted the health and safety of their people is their highest priority and they will obtain advice from NSW Health on the best way to protect staff.

“The Fire and Rescue NSW COVID-19 Vaccination Policy has contributed to the protection of staff through the pandemic period, reducing the risk of severe illness or impact on health, while maintaining operational capability,” FRNSW said.

A health care worker prepares a dose Pfizer/BioNTEch COVID-19 vaccine at The Michener Institute, in Toronto, Canada, on Dec.14, 2020. Carlos Osorio/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

The Fire and Rescue NSW COVID-19 vaccination policy has been in place since December 2021.

The policy was under review in June and July 2022, but the agency decided to maintain the mandates.

The Industrial Relations Commission of NSW dismissed a challenge from the Fire Brigade Employees’ Union of NSW to the mandates in January 2023.

Fire Rescue for the state of Victoria also maintained a similar COVID-19 mandate for firefighters, despite a Federal Court challenge from the Australian Firefighters Alliance.

In July, Fire Rescue Victoria declared that their mandate requiring three COVID-19 vaccinations would remain.