The City of Greater Geraldton's Mayor says Western Australia's health department has not clarified its COVID-19 vaccine mandates despite some rules having come into effect.
Shane Van Styn said the city had concerns about the classifications of staff in vaccine mandate groups 1 and 2.
"As a city, some of those group 2 employees attend group 1 locations, so it has been very confusing," he said.
"We've rung the health lines, we've sought advice from the department and no-one seems to be able to give us a clear direction and simply tells us to seek legal advice.
"The city has decided to try and interpret the rules as best it can through itself and knowing that the health department and the officials are unable to give a clear answer, we're quite confident in our own abilities.
'It makes it complicated'
The Department of Health's website states group 1 workers must have had two jabs by December 31, 2021, but group 2 workers have until the end of January 2022 to receive their second dose.
But group 2 staff must have received their first vaccination by December 31, 2021, meaning both groups will now have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
Mr Van Styn said the confusion involved staff who had to mix roles and locations.
"The mandates don't apply to our garden team but apply at the Aquarena," he said.
"Our customer service team on the front counter is not required to be vaccinated under the mandatory rules, however our building services and planning team are required.
"When the building planning services teams come out to the front counter to interact with the same people, are they required to be vaccinated or not?
"It makes it complicated — why are there two different sets of rules for the staff when they operate in the same space?"
The Mayor said the city wanted to ensure the rules were followed correctly and that staff felt safe at work.
"We now have people that won't work with unvaccinated people, citing workplace health and safety risks, as much as people are refusing to be vaccinated," he said.
The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.
