The Queensland Police Service (QPS) has been at the forefront of Queensland's ongoing public health emergency response to COVID-19 and will continue leading the way in safeguarding our community.
Commissioner Katarina Carroll said police had shown a strong commitment to protecting Queensland from COVID-19 as the pandemic continued to evolve.
"From border control, quarantine facilitates, to processing passengers at our airports, mask compliance and many other enforcement activities, our officers have been front and centre in the fight against COVID-19," Commissioner Carroll said.
"Our officers take the role of keeping Queenslanders safe very seriously and I am exceptionally proud of what all police have achieved.
"Tragically, we have seen how quickly a COVID-19 outbreak can disrupt and devastate a community and we know a highly vaccinated population is the greatest protection we have against the virus.
"That is why the QPS is mandating vaccinations for the entire workforce in all QPS workplaces within the next five months to protect employees, their families and the community from COVID-19."
Commissioner Carroll said the intent of the mandate was to create a safer environment for the QPS and the community.
"The dynamic nature of policing means frontline officers interact with large volumes of people and move around to all corners of the state," Commissioner Carroll said.
"It is important the Queensland community has confidence and feel safe when interacting with their police.
"While we respect individual choice and we will engage closely with our members as we implement the directive, our overwhelming obligation is to ensure we have safe workplaces and a safe community.
"It is also our obligation to ensure we maintain a healthy workforce to meet our obligation of maintaining adequate policing services for every community across Queensland."
All police officers and staff members will be required to have their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by October 4, 2021 and their second dose by January 23, 2022.
QPS members have been afforded the opportunity to obtain a priority COVID-19 vaccination as part of the 1A and 1B priority groups and will continue be able to receive their vaccinations whilst on-duty.
All members of the QPS workforce who have not received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or who are legally exempt will be required to wear a mask while on duty indoors and outdoors where they cannot socially distance.
Commissioner Carroll acknowledged the support of the relevant unions in progressing the mandate which is among the first for a policing jurisdiction in Australia.
"I would like to acknowledge and thank representatives from each employee union who have worked closely with us throughout this process," she said.
