December 9, 2021
South Burnett Regional Council will write to the State Government on Monday to say it will continue to support the COVID vaccination roll-out across the region.
It will also request extra support for local small businesses affected by the new restrictions due to come into force on December 17 if business owners attending information workshops in Murgon and Kingaroy this week indicate they need more clarity about implementing them.
While the letter will say Council acknowledges the right of residents to freely decide if they want to be vaccinated against COVID or not, it will also pledge Council’s support for Queensland Health, local hospitals and health services as they prepare for the reopening of the State’s borders on December 13.
The decision was made at Wednesday’s Community Standing Committee meeting following an address to the Council given by local residents Lynda Lange, Brett Chaseling and Michelle Anderson.
The trio’s address – and Councillors’ response – was livestreamed to a crowd of about 100 gathered outside the Council’s offices in the Glendon Street Forecourt who responded with cheers and boos as the meeting proceeded.
The trio said they opposed mandatory restrictions the State Government will introduce on December 17.
The restrictions will prevent unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people from entering pubs, clubs, hotels, bars, restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, indoor and outdoor music festivals, and State Government-owned stadiums, galleries, museums and libraries.
They will also be barred from entering aged care facilities, hospitals, prisons and disability services except in end-of-life, childbirth or emergency situations, and their presence at weddings or funerals will put a limit on attendance numbers.
The trio said they supported freedom of choice and called on the Council to back their position in a similar manner to Livingstone Regional Council.
On November 18, Livingstone Council voted to formally ask Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to reconsider the State Government’s decision to introduce the restrictions.
Former nurse Lynda Lange, who started a petition on Change.org that had so far gathered 1346 signatures and has helped organise a number of recent “freedom” rallies in the region, told Councillors she believed the majority of South Burnett residents supported her view that vaccination should be an individual choice.
Mrs Lange said she had surveyed 190 businesses and found that 95 per cent of respondents were opposed to mandatory restrictions.
Lynda said she had “been inundated” with people who had lost their jobs or been bullied about their decision not to get vaccinated.
She was followed by Mr Chaseling, who said he thought it was unfair that enforcement of the restrictions had been imposed on the region’s small businesses, who have been struggling with the pandemic for the past two years.
Ms Anderson agreed, saying the mandates meant some businesses would be forced to turn away customers at a time when they could not afford to.
Following this address, Mayor Brett Otto asked Councillors for their views on the matter.
Cr Gavin Jones said he fully supported the vaccination roll-out but also strongly believed the decision on whether to get vaccinated or not should be a personal choice.
He noted that while a business like the Glendon Street Café would be forced to implement the State Government’s restrictions, Council facilities like the nearby library were exempt.
“Where’s the fairness in that?” he said.
Cr Kirsty Schumacher said she and her entire family had been vaccinated but some other relatives had not.
She respected their decision not to get vaccinated, but hoped the families would be able to sit down together to Christmas dinner.
Cr Schumacher said she would also be returning to COVID-safe practices such as maintaining a 1.5 metre distance from others, wearing a face mask where necessary and washing her hands more frequently when the State opened up.
Cr Scott Henschen said the mandates were “a double-edged sword”. He was in favour of freedom of choice and thought the State Government’s restrictions against unvaccinated people “just aren’t right”.
Cr Kathy Duff said she knew some people had strong views and were very passionate and emotional about the issue, but she fully supported the vaccination roll-out.
“It’s not our place to question Queensland Health,” she said.
“My local GP is very concerned about what will happen when it (COVID) arrives here.
“And if you don’t trust your doctor, where does it end?”
Mayor Brett Otto said the incoming restrictions had been a divisive issue in the community and it was sad to see this occur.
He said the mandates were outside Council’s control and local governments did not have any say in the matter.
He was also disappointed with Livingstone Regional Council’s recent actions, which had dragged the South Burnett into the debate.
“I have listened to those who’ve spoken for and against vaccination and it’s hard to determine which view has majority support,” he said.
“But we’re not health practitioners and we have to trust them.”
The Mayor also reminded Councillors that the Chief Health Officer’s powers were voted into the relevant Act by State Parliament.
After this, the Mayor proposed the following motion:
“That the committee recommends that Council issue a public statement and media release advising that:
- The South Burnett Regional Council will continue to support the COVID vaccination roll-out across the region
- We acknowledge the rights of our residents to freedom of choice as to COVID vaccination
- Mandated restrictions are a matter for Queensland Health and the State Government
- We will provide support to Queensland Health where and as we can to ensure our local hospitals and health services are prepared when the borders open
- We will continue to support our local small businesses as we can to address the impacts of the ongoing pandemic, including the impacts from the restrictions mandated by the Queensland Government, and
- Following consultation will affected local small businesses, we will write to the Premier on Monday, December 13 to express the views of our business community and seek any support and assistance they feel is necessary to meet their obligations.
The Mayor’s motion was seconded by Cr Gavin Jones and carried 4-nil.
Cr Roz Frohloff had absented herself from the discussion due to a conflict of interest; Cr Scott Henschen left the meeting before the vote to attend a funeral; and Cr Danita Potter was absent from the meeting due to ill health.
Footnote: As at November 28, the Federal Department of Health reported that 85.8 per cent of South Burnett residents have now received their first vaccination and 70.3 per cent are now fully vaccinated. In Cherbourg, 58.9 per cent of residents have had their first vaccination and 40.7 per cent are now fully vaccinated.
Related articles:
