A Tasmanian nurse who refused to receive a COVID-19 vaccination has had his unfair dismissal case thrown out by the state's industrial commission.
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Ron Blume was sacked by the Health Department from the North-West Crisis Assessment Team last September for failing to comply with a deadline 11 months prior to provide evidence of a vaccination in accordance with a public health order.
The order dictated that from October 31, 2021, a person was not permitted to enter, or remain on, the premises of a medical or health facility unless they were sufficiently vaccinated.
During the hearing, Mr Blume acknowledged he had seen several emails sent to staff to provide evidence of vaccination and warnings of sanctions for not doing so.
In his findings, Tasmanian Industrial Commission president David Barclay said Mr Blume raised several objections to human resources after he was stood down from his job and pointed out that he wanted to trust his own judgement over that of the government and the medical system regarding a vaccination.
"The gravamen of the email is that the public health direction was inappropriate and that this sort of conduct through history has proven to be inappropriate," he said.
An investigation was then launched to determine whether the applicant had breached the state service's code of conduct through not complying with the public health order.
Mr Barclay said Mr Blume accepted that he did not evidence of vaccination or exception, however, he contended that termination of his employment was unfair.
Mr Barclay reported that there was a valid reason for termination based on the conduct of Mr Blume and dismissed his application for unfair dismissal.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
Political reporter for Australian Community Media, based in Hobart.
