BATTLE WON BUT WAR WAGES ON VACCINE MANDATES

5th April 2022

Discriminatory workforce-based COVID-19 vaccine mandates applying to professions like policing and teaching must be revoked following news the Queensland Government will lift its ban on unvaccinated patrons at most venues, Katter’s Australian Party MPs have said.

KAP Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter said he welcomed today’s announcement that bans would be lifted on unvaccinated Queenslanders visiting pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants, theme parks, cinemas, weddings, showgrounds, libraries and stadiums^[1], but would not be celebrating or thanking the State Government.

“These bans should never have been introduced in the first place,” Mr Katter said.

“From the outset these mandates were draconian and non-sensical, and they struck irrevocably at the heart of many of the values Australians hold dear, such as freedom, personal liberty, and the right of individuals to make their own health choices without coercion.

“We will not forget this gross overreach any time soon.

“It’s also curious that this issue wasn’t worth the time of day last week when the KAP attempted to debate, and ultimately end, the vaccine mandates in the Queensland Parliament.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government wouldn’t even allow me the opportunity to debate the topic, or propose amendments to the Emergency Powers legislation they rushed through.”

Mr Katter said the KAP was now calling on the Premier to lift the workforce-based mandates applying to the State’s police, teachers and all health professionals.

KAP Deputy Leader and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said that the easing of COVID-19 restrictions was welcomed news however, the recent adoption of the Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022 (which the KAP voted against) was still a concern for small businesses.

“Small businesses have been hit dramatically over the past few years as a result of the pandemic and associated travel restrictions,” Mr Dametto said.

“The easing of restrictions does give business owners a glimmer of hope, however the recent extension of the Chief Health Officer’s emergency powers means that these restrictions could potentially be reinforced at any time.

“The KAP has been calling to end all mandates for quite some time now and it’s good to see the State Labor Government finally removing these mandates that caused so much segregation, angst, and anger in the community.”

Member for Hill Shane Knuth said the KAP had been fighting the imposition of vaccination mandates from the beginning.

“It is great to see some of these mandates thrown out so that our hospitality, tourism and shows can fully operate,” Mr Knuth said.

“However, it is vitally important that this is lifted from our health and school systems so that we can return to some form of normality.”

[1] https://www.couriermail.com.au/coronavirus/covid-qld-eight-deaths-and-9946-new-cases-recorded-in-past-24-hours/news-story/b2a18909c937435cac909fc18b47a6c2