Queensland's top human rights body is taking more than six months to respond to complaints as it is inundated with questions about the state's COVID-19 public health orders, vaccine mandates, and quarantine policy.
The Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC) handles complaints and provides guidance around discrimination, vilification, sexual harassment, and other matters under the state's Anti-Discrimination Act.
But since the pandemic, the commission has been fielding constant calls relating to that, and has begun releasing fact sheets for frequently asked questions.
It has offices in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville, and Cairns.
A spokeswoman said the commission received more than 1,100 COVID-related enquiries since January 1 this year.
"There have been periods this year, usually as a result of changes in public health directions, when COVID-related enquiries made up over 35 per cent of all enquiries to the commission," the spokeswoman said.
In the past 18 months, the commission has received 300 enquiries relating to vaccinations, and 50 formal complaints.
"They may relate to a variety of vaccine issues including complaints from returning travellers who are fully vaccinated but still required to quarantine, or government-mandated vaccination," the spokeswoman said.
Queensland has mandated vaccines for some select groups such as Queensland health workers, police officers, and truck drivers who cross the state border.
Queensland Deputy Premier Stephen Miles said yesterday that vaccination levels were still too low in parts of the state, particularly Central Queensland.
Only 55 per cent of the region is fully vaccinated.
"I don't think the problem here is insufficient resources. We have clinics all over and our problem now is people," he said.
"People need to go and get vaccinated."
The QHRC does not make rulings in relation to complaints, but instead works to try to resolve complaints as a neutral third party through conciliation, change of policy, compensation, or an apology.
Vaccine mandates 'not new in Australia'
The QHRC says that if you are subject to a mandatory vaccination policy, that is a "lawful public health direction" and not a breach of human rights.
"Requiring people to be vaccinated against other diseases is not new in Australia," the QHRC reported in its fact sheets.
"This is because it is accepted that vaccination is required to protect the community.
"Merely being opposed to vaccination is unlikely to be sufficient to demonstrate an unreasonable limitation on your rights."
