Katter’s Australia Party wants end to vaccination mandates in Queensland

Katter’s Australia Party is set to introduce amendments to the state government’s Public Health Bill in a bid to scrap vaccination mandates.

Parliament will consider ending Covid-19 vaccination mandates, with Katter’s Australia Party set to force debate on the controversial measure which it claims has set a “dangerous precedent”.

Unvaccinated Queenslanders have been prevented from entering many hospitality venues, stadiums and health and aged-care facilities since December 17.

Minor party leader Robbie Katter this week will introduce amendments to the government’s Public Health Bill – which will extend the chief health officer’s pandemic powers until October 31 – to scrap the vaccination mandates and end what he says is a “gross overreach” of power.

Mr Katter said Queensland was now experienced in managing the pandemic and called for unvaccinated people to be allowed to live with the virus.

Robbie Katter says unvaccinated people should be allowed to live with the virus. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“Even if you do believe strongly in the vaccinations, in the mandates, they’ve done their job, people have 90 per cent now,” he said.

“Everyone gets scared about health and the elderly and those immunocompromised … they’re really important issues but we need to park that for the greater issues that face our society.

“We need to have a mature discussion without being branded as a lunatic, fringe anti-vaxxer.”

The Katter’s Australia Party amendments will mark the first significant debate on vaccination mandates within the Queensland parliament.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli confirmed Mr Katter’s push to end vaccine mandates would be discussed at the LNP’s party room meeting.

Mr Crisafulli’s office later declined to outline the party’s position on mandates but said the LNP would move its own amendments to improve transparency on the state’s Covid-19 response.

The amendments will call on the state government to outline the future of restrictions by May 31, establish a bipartisan committee to have oversight of related powers and to release health advice underpinning the state’s Covid-19 response.

Mr Katter said ongoing questions about government integrity meant people should be sceptical about unchallenged power.

Originally published as Katter’s Australia Party wants end to vaccination mandates in Queensland