Llew O’Brien threatens to join rebel politicians over vaccine mandate law

Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien has left the door open to joining a renegade group of politicians as the battle over controversial vaccine laws continues to heat up.

Deputy Speaker Llew O'Brien wants the Federal Government to provide a definitie timeline on when its proposed vaccine mandates will end. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Wide Bay MP and Deputy Speaker Llew O’Brien has left the door open to joining a rebellion against the Federal Government if it failed to secure end-dates to state vaccine mandates..

Mr O’Brien told News Corp he would consider abstaining from voting on government legislation unless the government obtained a timeline on when controversial State rules would end.

“Any sort of a timeline needs to be established,” Mr O’Brien said.

“There needs to be an end date on this stuff.

“I’m keeping a close eye on it.

“While I’m not in that (rebel) camp at the moment, I am not ruling any future action out.”

In a Facebook post earlier this month Mr O’Brien supported Covid vaccines as “the most important measure we have” but took aim at Queensland Government restrictions.

MP George Christensen has threatened to disrupt the Federal Government’s plans if it does not work to keep Australians protected from “vaccine discrimination”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“Business owners can’t afford to lose staff, nor should they have to put on additional team members to dictate who can spend money at their venue,” he said.

The small but significant rebellion against mandates has the potential to create headaches for the Federal Government.

Controversial MP George Christensen threatened to disrupt plans and cross the floor if the Government failed to act fast to protect Australians from “vaccine discrimination”.

In a Facebook post early this week Mr Christensen vowed to wreak havoc by not adhering to Party Room discipline on votes in the House of Representatives and instead vote on conscience or abstain.

If Mr Christensen followed through on his threat the Government would need a crossbencher or Labor MP to pass any legislation.

Senator Pauline Hanson lost an attempt to outlaw mandatory vaccinations, but she received support from several Liberal backbenchers and Coalition MPs. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The Dawson MP’s threat followed a failed attempt by One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson to pass a bill outlawing mandatory vaccinations and overturning state and territory rules requiring full vaccination in some settings.

Liberal backbenchers Gerard Rennick and Alex Antic, Coalition senators Matt Canavan, Sam McMahon and Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts supported Ms Hanson’s proposal.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been critical of the state and territory mandates but has said he would not back laws that would overturn them.