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Tumut paramedic challenges COVID-19 vaccine mandate in Supreme Court

A Riverina paramedic’s legal challenge over the requirement for all health workers in NSW to have a COVID vaccine may not be heard until the warrant goes into effect.

A state government health ordinance requires healthcare workers, including paramedics, to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination by September 30, unless they have a medical certificate for an exemption.

Tumut paramedic John Larter’s legal action at the New South Wales Supreme Court was set today for a trial hearing before Judge Robert Beech-Jones on September 28, two days only before the term of office.

Mr Larter, who is also the deputy mayor of Snowy Valley City Council, has been a paramedic for 25 years and said he had no plans to get the shot.

“There are a number of reasons why I am not comfortable having him and that will obviously be debated in court,” he said.

“It is extremely unfair to ask someone to go through a medical procedure that they are not comfortable with and then threaten them with their livelihood.

“It could be a safety issue, it could be risk-based, it could be religion-based. There are many reasons why someone may or may not want a vaccine and, ultimately, that choice. should be personal to them.

“No one should be forced to get the vaccine. “