Cairns vaccine protest: Worldwide Rally for Freedom march on Esplanade over mandate
Thousands of anti-vaccine mandate protesters have piled onto the Cairns Esplanade for one of the biggest rallies the city has ever seen.
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THOUSANDS of anti-vaccine mandate protesters have piled onto the Cairns Esplanade for one of the biggest rallies the city has ever seen.
Parking spaces were blacked for kilometres surrounding Muddy’s Playground as the Worldwide Rally for Freedom made its way to the Far North.
Protesters gathered to hear more than an hour of impassioned speeches under the sprawling fig trees, although sheer numbers meant many were left sweating in the sun.
The rally, with placards declaring “Coercion is not consent” and “Hold the line”, comes amid warnings that unvaccinated Queenslanders will risk serious health problems and potential death once borders open on December 17.
Division 9 Cairns regional councillor Brett Olds got the biggest cheers of the bunch after a whirlwind fortnight in which he publicly labelled the Prime Minister gutless, relinquished his Liberal Party membership and came out as a proud “pro-choice” supporter.
Cr Olds stressed his stance was against the Queensland Government’s impending mandate that would force businesses to take strict measures against non-vaccinated customers and staff.
He claimed for every person that attended a rally, there were 10 other sympathisers that did not.
“I can tell you the wind has changed and the tide has turned,” he said.
“You don’t need 50 per cent or 51 per cent to stand up to cause change.
“You only need about 10 per cent … and that’s the tipping point.”
Cr Olds said he last week received calls from three high-ranking LNP members who urged him not to stand down but said he was fighting a losing battle.
“I said what kind of a gutless coward only gets into fights they think they can win,” he continued.
“Some things are worth fighting for.”
He added the federal Coalition appeared to be changing its stance on the states’ vaccination mandates.
“Fast-forward to two days ago, our Prime Minister came out on the front foot after being a church mouse for 12 months …” Cr olds said.
“Warren Entsch came out yesterday on Facebook and said exactly the same thing.
“Eight days ago they were saying the opposite.”
Kennedy MP Bob Katter also made an appearance to chants of “Bob, Bob”.
He claimed the Queensland Government had “failed miserably” in its dealings with Covid-19.
“We are worse off now. There are more cases than there were a year ago,” he said.
“I was in a government that stopped you from doing things but I was never in a government that forced you to do something.”
Cairns MP Michael Healy, who received several negative mentions during the rally, has been asked for comment.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this week revealed the eighth round of regional community forums would be held this Monday to highlight vaccination efforts across the state.
A forum will be held in Cairns.
“As we approach our 80 per cent double vaccination milestone and to safely welcome more tourists back to regional towns and cities this holiday season, we need more people in the regions to step up and receive a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“I’m grateful for the continued action and advocacy of all forum members on this issue and all the issues that are important to their communities, as we work together to protect lives and livelihoods in regional Queensland.”
Protesters set off to march along the Esplanade after the speeches.
Similar rallies have been held in major cities across the country.
Three children temporarily went missing during the speech segment of the rally, one of whom was found up a tree.
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Originally published as Cairns vaccine protest: Worldwide Rally for Freedom march on Esplanade over mandate
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