Pollies say they will get vaccine early because CHO says so

Politicians as young as 30 are taking up the Chief Health Officer’s offer to jump to the front of the queue to get a Pfizer vaccine. SEE THE LIST

The Courier-Mail surveyed all of Queensland’s state MPs and found politicians as young as 30 are taking up the Chief Health Officer’s offer to jump to the front of the queue to get a Pfizer vaccine.

As revealed on Wednesday, CHO Dr Jeannette Young this week wrote to the clerk of Queensland’s parliament, Neil Lawrie, advising him that Queensland politicians should be vaccinated as a matter of urgency.

Politicians are able to use a print out of the letter as “evidence of their eligibility” so they can book an appointment.

Bundaberg MP Tom Smith, 30, Mount Ommaney MP Jess Pugh 36, Aspley MP Bart Mellish and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, 37, will all use the letter to go to the front of the line despite not yet being eligible based on age.

Bundaberg MP Tom Smith said he would be using the CHO’s letter to get a Pfizer vaccine as soon as possible despite only being aged 30.

Mr Smith said while he had been happy to wait patiently for his vaccine “having read the health advice from the CHO I will now get the vaccine”.

Fellow Labor members Mr Mellish and Ms Pugh said they would also follow the CHO’s advice and get vaccinated.

Aspley MP Bart Mellish blamed the Federal Government’s “shambolic” vaccine rollout for why those aged under 40 had not yet been vaccinated. Mr Mellish will no head to the front of the queue thanks to Dr Young. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

KAP party member Mr Dametto said he believed it was fair for politicans to get vaccinated now because they met with many people everyday - including vulnerable groups such as elderly and Indigenous Queenslanders.

The Courier-Mail surveyed every sitting member to find out if they were vaccinated, or if they would use the letter to seek early vaccination.

While the vast majority were vaccinated due to their age group every LNP not vaccinated because they were under the age of 40 said they would wait their turn like everyone else.

LNP Opposition Leader David Crisafulli slammed the CHO’s decision and said right now with more people wanting to get than are able to it was a simple case of “queue jumping”.

“It’s one thing to instil confidence and it’s another thing to jump the queue and what I’m seeing from a third term government is a lot of hypocrisy on things,” he said.

“It’s one rule for the Premier on travel and another for everyday Queenslanders. One standard of hotel quarantine for the premier and another rule for everyday Queenslanders. Now there’s one rule for when they get vaccinated and one rule for when everyday Queenslanders get vaccinated.”

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said anyone using the letter to get vaccinated ahead of time was queue jumping. Picture David Clark

But Deputy Premier Steven Miles defended the chief health officer’s advice, saying Prime Minister Scott Morrison was the first person in Australia to receive Pfizer.

“I think it’s important that all of Queensland’s employers get the best possible health advice, that’s what’s happened here, the Clerk has asked the chief health officer for advice and she has provided that advice,” he said.

Mr Miles said politicians travelled all across the state and visited hospitals, schools, aged care facilities and remote Indigenous communities.

“And so there is a very real risk there and that’s what the chief health officer has provided advice on,” he said.

Independent MP for Noosa Sandy Bolton said there was no way she would put her had up to be vaccinated ahead of her constituents who were on the frontline, like teachers.

“I have got so many people in my community absolutely desperate to get Pfizer,” she said.

FULL LIST: HAVE YOU HAD ONE OR BOTH OF YOUR COVID VACCINE SHOTS?

YES

Bancroft MP Chris Whiting

Bulimba MP Di Farmer

Burleigh MP Michael Hart

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett

Condamine MP Pat Weir

Coomera MP Michael Crandon

Everton MP Tim Mander

Ferny Grove MP Mark Furner

Greenslopes MP Joe Kelly

Gregory MP Lachlan Millar

Kurwongbah MP Shane King

Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson

Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders

McConnel MP Grace Grace

Moggill MP Christian Rowan

Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates

Mundingburra MP Les Walker

Redcliffe MP Yvette D’Ath

Southport MP Rob Molhoek

Springwood MP Mick de Brenni

Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts

Traeger MP Robbie Katter

Ipswich West Jim Madden

Mansfield Corrine McMillan

Pumicestone MP Ali King

Caloundra MP Jason Hunt

Chatsworth MP Steve Minnikin

Clayfield MP Tim Nicholls

Cooper MP Jonty Bush

Inala MP Annastacia Palaszczuk

Jordan MP Charis Mullen

Glass House MP Andrew Powell

Lockyer MP Jim McDonald

Maiwar MP Michael Berkman

Miller MP Mark Bailey

Sandgate MP Stirling Hinchliffe

Woodridge MP Cameron Dick (booked in next week)

Lytton MP Joan Pease

Barron River MP Craig Crawford

Capalaba MP Don Brown

Callide MP Colin Boyce

Nanango MP Deb Frecklington

Broadwater MP David Crisafulli

Burdekin MP Dale Last

Warrego MP Ann Leahy

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek

Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt

Murrumba MP Steven Miles

Nicklin MP Rob Skelton

Keppel MP Brittany Lauga

Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard

Cairns MP Michael Healy

Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki

Gympie MP Tony Perrett

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper

Algester MP Leeanne Enoch

Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson

Ninderry MP Dan Purdie

Scenic Rim MP Jon Krause (booked in next week)

Bundamba MP Lance McCallum

Townsville MP Scott Stewart

Southern Downs MP James Lister

Logan MP Linus Power

Morayfield MP Mark Ryan

Waterford MP Shannon Fentiman

Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon

Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens

NO, BUT WILL USE THE CHO’S LETTER TO GET A VACCINATION

Bundaberg MP Tom Smith (age 30)

Aspley MP Bart Mellish (age 38)

Mount Ommaney MP Jessica Pugh (age 36)

NO, BUT WILL WAIT THEIR TURN

Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm (on wait list)

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor (age 29)

Buderim MP Brent Mickelberg (age 39)

Noosa MP Sandy Bolton (On wait list)

Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie (age 39)

Theodore MP Mark Boothman (on wait list)

Currumbin MP Laura Gerber (age 36)

Hervey Bay MP Adrian Tantari (planning to get vaccinated soon – age 60)

Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher (planning on getting vaccinated soon – age 49)

DID NOT ANSWER

Mirani MP Stephen Andrew

Toohey MP Peter Russo

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto

Macalister MP Melissa McMahon

Nudgee MP Leanne Linard

Redlands MP Kim Richards

South Brisbane MP Amy MacMahon

Stafford MP Jimmy Sullivan

Cook MP Cynthia Lui

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert

Pine Rivers MP Nikki Boyd

Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke

Hill MP Shane Knuth (Mr Knuth was unavailable for comment for family reasons)