As of December 20 all City of Adelaide employees – including staff, contractors, volunteers, trainees and interns – must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Adelaide City Council CEO Clare Mockler announced this week.

Adelaide City Council CEO Clare Mockler said in a statement this morning that after assessing the risks and benefits, it will be mandatory from 5pm, 20 December for all council employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

“We know that vaccination is key to reducing the spread of COVID-19 within the workplace and the community and, along with my Executive team, I have a duty to ensure our people’s safety and wellbeing at work,” she said.

“We also have a duty to provide essential and capital city services for our ratepayers, local businesses and our broader community.”

Mockler said the total number of employees affected by the mandate is approximately 1200.

The move also applies to roughly 350 contractors – not including temporary labour-hire – and their staff.

The City of Adelaide manages a range of community centres, such as the mental health shed, City Library and Adelaide Aquatic Centre.

Mockler said a fully vaccinated workplace would reduce the risk of health and safety to staff and “minimise” the disruption of services.

It would also support the city to be “resilient and recover” from the health and economic challenges presented by the coronavirus.

She said individuals sitting on committees or boards, such as the Reconciliation Committee and the Adelaide Park Lands Authority, would not need to be double-dose vaccinated under the move.

The City of Adelaide was unable to provide CityMag a number on how many employees are currently double-jabbed against COVID-19 due to confidentiality concerns.

Mockler said “at this stage” elected members would not need to be double-vaccinated under the mandate.

But as part of their risk assessment and planning for state border openings, “[councillors] have been asked to confirm their vaccination status.”

When asked whether members of the public interacting with City of Adelaide staff would need to be double-dose vaccinated, Mockler said they “appreciate” the community’s continued support in observing SA Health advice about “mask wearing, social distancing and other precautions to help stop the spread of COVID-19″.

The news comes one day after the announcement of a passenger transport vaccine mandate for South Australian point-to-point drivers – including taxi, rideshare and chauffeured drivers – working at metropolitan and regional airports.

The direction, issued by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens late on Monday night, requires drivers have at least one vaccine jab by this Thursday with a booking for a second.

The mandate also stipulates those whose work or duties relates to the provision of passenger transport services – including conductors, booking and ticketing staff, and security guards – must have at least one vaccination by 20 December.

When journalists asked Stevens yesterday whether authorities were considering mandated vaccines for other industries, he said “that’s subject to advice provided to me by SA Health”.

“There may be some being referred to me in the very near future but I’m not able to comment on those at the moment.”