Sweeping vaccine mandates in Western Australia’s (WA) could see an estimated 39,000 workers lose their jobs and livelihoods, a figure which is estimated to cost the state economy around $2.9 billion (US$2.1 billion). WA Premier Mark McGowan has implemented one of Australia’s most significant vaccination mandates, currently requiring more than 75 percent of the state’s workforce—equivalent to over a million residents—to get vaccinated by January. But this has come at a cost, with peak industry body Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA) revealing in a survey that 3.7 percent of employees—around 55,000 workers—would not receive a COVID-19 vaccination “under any circumstance.” Of this figure, 39,000 are covered by the vaccination mandates, meaning they will no longer be allowed under the state government’s new directives. In addition, thousands of workers, including those in mining and police, are no longer able to work due to the Dec. 1 deadline set for …