Challenging Vaccine Passports By James Reed
Dawson Liberal National MP George Christensen, is taking a stand in opposing the dreadful vaccine passports. We need to support him, and everyone should personally contact their local federal member, and take in a delegation of people to put the case to oppose the vaccine passports. This is no time to sit back, as it will affect, if not infect, us all.
“Outspoken MP George Christensen has left the door open to a split with the Coalition on vaccine passports as a “matter of principle”.
In a statement to NCA NewsWire, the Dawson Liberal National Party MP said he had made his views clear to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Coalition party room on Tuesday.
“I’ve told the Prime Minister as recently as the party room meeting yesterday that we should not be pushing for the invasion of people’s medical privacy by enabling businesses to ask staff and customers to confirm their vaccination,” Mr Christensen said.
“We should not be pushing for discrimination against Australian citizens who choose not to undergo a particular medical treatment, and that means we shouldn’t be allowing the refusal of employment or service because someone hasn’t been vaccinated.
“This is a matter of principle for me and if there is any enabling legislation that has to come forward I will not be supporting it.”
Mr Christensen’s vote is critical to the Coalition government, which holds a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week confirmed the idea of a vaccine passport is currently being weighed by the national cabinet.
Under Phase B of the government’s vaccination road map, “special rules” could be implemented for greater freedoms for the inoculated.
But Mr Morrison has stressed it would be left to the states to enact a public health order to allow businesses to ask patrons for a proof of vaccination status as a condition of entry.
“The law doesn’t allow for that, I should stress. I mean, unless there’s a public health order. Just like it wouldn’t allow someone to be stopped from going to a venue. That’s my advice,” the Prime Minister said.
“But state governments can put those in place. Phase B of the plan is all about ensuring that those who have been vaccinated do get exempted from restrictions.”
Mr Christensen claims he has received over 60,000 signatures to a petition on his website against vaccine passports.
“I intend, in the coming weeks, to present that petition to the Prime Minister and Health Minister direct (sic),” he told NCA NewsWire.
In question time on Wednesday, the opposition called for the government to condemn the Nationals’ backbencher for his views amid low vaccination rates across his electorate.
Department of Health figures released this week revealed the Mackay – Isaac – Whitsunday region, which Mr Christensen represents, had a first dose vaccination rate of 27.1%. Only 10.2% of adults are fully vaccinated.
Mr Morrison told the house Mr Christensen had a right to free speech.
“I don't share the views of the Member for Dawson on that matter, I don’t. I have been very clear about that but I tell you what, in this country people have a right to free speech,” he said.
“That is not something that the government is seeking to clamp down on.”
When asked, Mr Christensen said he was not contributing to vaccine hesitancy across his electorate.
“People have access to vaccines and they have the personal choice whether to take them or not,” he said.
“My critics are contributing to freedom hesitancy, when no one should ever be hesitant about freedom.”
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