Local councillor refuses to get COVID-19 vaccine

The decision means he will be barred from visiting council buildings, attending council meetings in person, or appearing at functions or events or venues where vaccination is a requirement.

Cr Doukas said the vaccination requirement being implemented by the Moyne Shire Council was "a bloody stupid rule", but he "(didn't) foresee it being a problem".

He said he didn't approve of the state government's vaccine mandates.

"We might need a civil war to clean the ba*****s out," he told The Standard.

"I wouldn't go near that Astra Zeneca or Pfizer in a fit."

Cr Doukas said he planned to attend the next council meeting via Zoom.

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Unlike state and federal elected members, local councillors are permitted to vote without physically being present.

Moyne Shire mayor Daniel Meade said Cr Doukas was "entitled to his own views" on the matter, but stressed he and the council had taken "an active leadership role in the community to promote vaccination".

Council chief executive Bill Millard said the council was "working to ensure that alternative arrangements and technology is available for Cr Doukas to participate in meetings remotely".

He said vaccination rules would limit Cr Doukas' movements.

"Moyne Shire Council is following the Chief Health Officer's Directions which require all attendees at community facilities to be fully vaccinated or have a valid medical exemption. All councillors have been made aware of these requirements and the need to provide proof of their vaccination status.

"It is Cr Doukas' personal decision not to be vaccinated, however CHO Directions are clear on vaccine requirements and Council must ensure the health and safety of Councillors and other staff remain of highest priority."

Cr Doukas was the only Moyne councillor unable to provide proof of vaccination. Mr Millard said only a handful of the council's 350 staff had failed to get vaccinated.

"I am insisting on full compliance with the CHO directions for vaccinated workers and expect all staff to meet the requirements set out in those directives," he said.

The CEO of Swan Hill Council John McLinden resigned late last month after refusing to get vaccinated, but the south-west has avoided similar controversy so far.

Corangamite Shire CEO Andrew Mason said all the shire's councillors were fully vaccinated and fewer than five of the 280 council staff had refused the jab.

He said those staff were currently either working from home or taking annual or personal leave.

"It will only become an issue when their personal leave runs out and we are a long way from that," he said.

"We will cross that bridge when we get there."

Warrnambool City Council was in a similar position, with fewer than 10 of its 671 staff yet to receive a first dose.

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