Gone rogue: QLD LNP Senator withholds vote from government

In more signs of unrest in the Morrison Government, a Queensland Senator has declared he will withhold his vote from the government until a series of demands are met – and it has nothing to do with the net zero emissions debate.

Queensland LNP Senator Gerard Rennick has gone rogue, declaring he will withhold his vote from the government unless a series of demands regarding Covid-19 vaccines are met.

While it does not put the government into minority, as he is in the senate not the house of representatives, it will make it slightly more difficult for the government to pass legislation as they will require an additional crossbench vote.

His demands include more compensation for “victims of vaccine adverse events”, “the right for victims of adverse events to refuse a second shot”, no mandatory vaccines, that “children do not need to take the vaccines” and domestic travel restrictions be repealed.

LNP Senator Gerard Rennick says he is withholding his vote from the Morrison Government. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Senator Rennick posted a letter he sent to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, currently overseas for the G20 and COP26 climate summit, to his Facebook page.

The post was flagged by the social media company which added a note that “Covid-19 vaccines go through many tests for safety and effectiveness and are then monitored closely”.

Only children 12 or older are eligible to receive the vaccine and it is not a requirement, state governments are responsible for border restrictions and have resisted pressure from the Federal Government.

Testing and checks is taking place with regards to potential use of Covid vaccines for five to eleven year olds.

There is also a compensation scheme in place, which Senator Rennick said was not adequate, for claims of $5000 to $20,000 with claimants needing to have been hospitalised for at least one night.

While the Federal Government has not mandated vaccination, some state governments have made it a requirement for some frontline workers while some businesses have chosen to make it a requirement.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Senator Rennick said he had been “inundated from many Australians stressed about losing their jobs” or having mandatory vaccination for children.

“Upon becoming a Senator over two years ago I made a pledge to serve the people of this great country, not destroy them,” Senator Rennick said.

His statement was welcomed by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party Senator Malcolm Roberts as well as former Queensland Premier and now Liberal Democrats senate candidate Campbell Newman.

“About time others in the (LNP) showed similar courage,” Mr Newman posted on social media.

Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt said it was a sign Mr Morrison was “losing control of his own government”.

“He got overruled by Barnaby Joyce on net zero and now his backbench won’t listen to him on vaccines,” Senator Watt said.

Originally published as Gone rogue: QLD LNP Senator withholds vote from government