Could the Government make a COVID-19 vaccine mandatory in Australia?

When Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Melbourne radio station 3AW a COVID-19 vaccine would be "as mandatory as you can possibly make it" there was an immediate backlash from some groups.

Mr Morrison even went so far as to suggest the grounds by which exemptions should be granted.

"There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds, but that should be the only basis," he said.

Key points

Existing powers in Victoria and WA to require an individual to be vaccinated are impractical for use on a mass scale

Mandating a vaccine could contravene charters of human rights in some states

But governments have other means of encouraging vaccine uptake, such as withholding welfare payments

A few hours later, talking on Sydney radio station 2GB, Mr Morrison made a sharp departure from his earlier comments, ruling out a compulsory vaccine.

"It's not going to be compulsory to have the vaccine," he said.

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-16/fact-file-mandatory-vaccination-is-it-possible/12661804?nw=0