Pauline Hanson moves to BAN Covid-19 vaccine mandates

Pauline Hanson has moved a bill to ban Covid-19 vaccine mandates with a passionate speech in the Senate. 

‘People have a right to chose whether they want to have this vaccination or not,’ she said. 

‘What is the country coming to? If you allows the premiers to have these powers what will be next? ‘This could lead to anything.’ 

The Federal Government insists the Covid vaccine is optional but state and territory governments as well as private companies have enforced vaccine mandates, requiring jabs for activities like going to work, the pub or the shops.  

One Nation leader Senator Hanson – who is unvaccinated – has introduced a bill to over-ride the states and ban all vaccine discrimination. 

Her bill is supported by Coalition Senator Matt Canavan, but will be opposed by the Government, Labor and the Greens, meaning it will not pass.

Senator Canavan, who is fully vaccinated, said no-one should be denied the right to work and put food on the table for their families if they don’t want the vaccine.

‘This division has to end,’ he said. 

‘I trust Australians to be the masters of their own healthcare… without the heavy hand of Government.’ 

Ministers on Monday morning said the Federal Government only supports vaccine mandates in certain healthcare settings and said the states were responsible for economy-wide mandates.

In her passionate speech introducing the bill, Senator Hanson called Mr Morrison ‘weak’. 

‘The Prime minister is weak, he says there should be no vaccine mandates – then do something about it,’ she said.

Senator Hanson also defended pro-choice protesters, saying: ‘They’re not idiots, they’re not ratbags, they’re everyday Australians. They’re not extremists.’ 

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally slammed the Government for allowing Senator Hanson’s bill to be debated and accused Mr Morrison of pandering to ‘extremists’ to gain votes ahead of next year’s election. 

Last week Mr Morrison said vaccine mandates to enter pubs and cafes should not be in place after states reach the 80 per cent vaccination threshold.

While NSW will drop vaccine passports on December 15, Queensland will introduce them to enter hospitality venues on December 17 and Victoria has vowed to keep jab requirements in place well into next year. 

Mr Morrison, who is under pressure from pro-choice politicians in his party, on Thursday said the only mandates he supports are for health workers. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Reid MP Fiona Martin visit the Tooheys brewery in Sydney on Thursday

In a dig at Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, he said unvaccinated people ‘should be able to go to a get a cup of coffee in Brisbane’.

‘Now it’s time for governments to step back and for Australians to take their life back,’ he said during a visit to the Tooheys brewery in Sydney on Thursday.

‘We aren’t in favour of mandatory vaccines imposed by the Government. Businesses can make their own choices on the law but we aren’t about telling them or Australians what to do. 

‘Vaccines are only mandatory in cases where you have health workers working with vulnerable people.

‘That’s what our medical advice has always been and, as we get above 80 per cent in particular… they should be able to go to a get a cup of coffee in Brisbane regardless of whether you’ve had a vaccine or not.’

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles hit back at at the prime minister, accusing him of backing ‘dangerous fringe elements’ such as the anti-government protesters in Melbourne.

Mr Miles said Mr Morrison was undermining the state’s pandemic response for his own ‘cynical political interests’.

‘He is so desperate to claw together a coalition of anti-vaxxers for his own political benefit that he is undermining confidence in our vaccine,’ the deputy premier told parliament.

The planned venue mandate has boosted vaccine uptake, Mr Miles said, and was a deserved reward for those who had done the right thing and got the jab.

‘They do not deserve to be undermined by a prime minister more interested in currying favour with coffee baron donors and lunatic backbenchers than the health and the jobs of Queenslanders,’ Mr Miles said. 

It comes after two Liberal senators and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation vowed to withhold support from the Government unless Mr Morrison takes action to stop vaccine mandates.

If Queenslander Gerard Rennick, South Australian Alex Antic and One Nation stick to their guns then Mr Morrison will be unable to pass any contested laws next week. 

While NSW will drop vaccine passports on December 15, Queensland will introduce them to enter hospitality venues on December 17