A Brisbane-based airline appears to have become the first to impose a mandatory vaccination policy in Australia, saying any staff who refuse the COVID-19 jab may face disciplinary action.

Alliance Airlines confirmed it would be rolling out its immunisation policy which requires all workers, including contractors and their employees working at the airline’s sites, to be vaccinated against both flu and COVID-19. If they refuse, an initial risk assessment process will be carried out surrounding their role. If they continue to refuse the workplace direction and do not have a valid legal or medical reason, then the policy states “appropriate disciplinary action may be taken”.

Speaking to The Australian, Alliance Managing Director Scott McMillan said more than 95 percent of the employees have been supportive of the new policy.

“Right throughout the industry, there’s a big move towards people being vaccinated. All the senior management and directors have been vaccinated and we believe the way forward is for all of us to be vaccinated,” he said.

The airline, which predominantly operates routes between mining areas, is thought to be the first in the aviation industry to impose a mandatory policy. Much larger employers like Qantas and Virgin Australia have strongly encouraged staff to be vaccinated but have stopped short of enforcing the jab.

McMillan said the company has sought legal advice on the policy and so far, around half of Alliance’s 700-strong workforce had received their first dose. He said the company’s board of directors believed that Alliance has an obligation to provide a safe workplace for all staff and vaccinations are a key part of that.

However, the Australian Federation of Air Pilots said it has communicated its concerns about a mandatory policy to the company and highlighted the Fair Work Ombudsman’s guidance which states the majority of employers will not be able to force staff to be vaccinated.

The Australian Federation of Air Pilots is very much in favor of vaccination and encourages everyone to get vaccinated,” a spokesman for the AFAP told HRD. “But making the COVID-19 vaccine a condition of employment is potentially problematic. It is not yet clear to us whether, and in what circumstances, aviation employers can make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory.”