Mayor Tom Tate says he’s ‘pro-choice’ on vaccinations as study released Qld may never meet vax milestones

Outspoken Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says he’s neutral about vaccines – and whether businesses should police it. This comes as a study shows Queensland may never hit its vaccination freedom milestone.

Mayor Tom Tate has fired another shot at the state government’s controversial jab mandate, saying if any of the Gold Coast’s 66,000 small businesses want to serve the unvaccinated – they should.

But he has declined a request to meet an anti-vax group or agree to officially tag the city pro-choice.

In a statement to the Bulletin, Mr Tate reiterated his support for vaccinations and said they were the pathway to getting the city’s small business and tourism meccas humming again.

However, he also described himself as pro-choice and being a long-time promoter of the city’s “have-a-go-spirit”.

“My view is that if a business only wants to let vaccinated patrons in, that’s fine,” he said.

“The same applies if they want to let unvaccinated patrons in … I’m completely pro-choice in that regard.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says businesses should be able to serve unvaccinated customers if they want to. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Tate’s comments come a week after he sided with Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his criticism of the Queensland government’s stance to prohibit unvaccinated people from entering pubs and cafes once the state hit the 80 per cent fully vaccinated threshold.

Mr Morrison said people should be allowed to “get a cup of coffee” regardless of their vaccination status. Mr Tate said “we have to learn to live with Covid”.

In the months before that, Mr Tate called for the Coast’s lockdown to be lifted after no new Covid-19 cases and urged the state government to open borders early on December 1.

Queensland is expected to open its borders to hot spots such as Victoria and NSW once its hits 80 per cent full vaccinated.

It was originally tagged to be December 17, but acting chief health officer Peter Aitken last week said that could be as early as December 6.

Regardless, vaccinated people will not be allowed into restaurants and clubs until 90 per cent of the eligible population is inoculated.

As of Thursday, 84.1 per cent of eligible Gold Coasters have received one Covid jab; 72.9 per cent are fully vaccinated. In Queensland, 85.3 per cent have received their first dose and 74.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Vaccine hesitancy in Queensland remains stubbornly high and threatens to delay the state reaching 90 per cent jab coverage, according to new data from the University of Melbourne.

Vaccine hesitancy in Queensland is the highest in the country, according to a Melbourne Institute survey, followed by SA at 9.5 per cent, with all other states about five per cent or lower.

More than 11 per cent of the adult population is hesitant about the Covid-19 jab, creating fears the easing of interstate and international travel restrictions could be further in the distance than originally thought.

University of Melbourne Professor Anthony Scott told NewsCorp this was likely due to the two states not being exposed to major outbreaks experienced in other major cities.

Despite his views, Mayor Tate declined a request from a group called Undivided Gold Coast to attend a vaccine mandate response meeting.

The group said the meeting on December 2 would bring together business owners, healthcare staff and parents to discuss the vaccine mandate and its impact on the community.

Other anti-vaxxers called on the Mayor to declare the city as “pro-choice”.

Nine regional councils plan to write letters to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, urging a rethink on the mandate.

This includes Mackay and Whitsunday councils, which have unanimously passed motions to ask the Premier to heed community feedback.

A spokesman for the Premier declined to directly respond to Mayor Tate’s comments, but pointed out that the Coast was a tourist destination and Ms Palaszczuk did not want people to get Covid.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during a media conference in Broadbeach and Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Mayor Tate rejected the call to declare Gold Coast as pro-choice and urged people to “express their views peacefully”.

“I am double vaccinated and that was my choice. I believe every Gold Coaster has that choice and I will still respect those who choose not to be vaccinated,” he said.

“The only way we will truly open up our economy is for people to continue to get vaccinated. “I’m confident we are on track for 90 per cent fully vaccinated and that is the pathway to our economic future.

“My time is best spent working on the next year’s budget rather than attending this rally or any rally.

“I have no intention of raising a pro-choice discussion at full council as my views are clear.’’

Even if a council declared itself “pro-choice”, it cannot override public health directives.

Local Government Association Queensland CEO Alison Smith said these directives set by the chief health officer were a matter for the state government.

“The LGAQ and its member councils have been consulting with the state government since its latest Covid-19 plan was announced,” she said.

“Councils are seeking clarity on the impacts the state’s new plan will have on council operations and workforces as well as regarding the broader impacts on their local communities.”

Anti-vaxxer protesters crowd the Coolangatta-Tweed border on the southern Gold Coast on Friday, Oct 1 2020. Picture: Glenn Hampson

At 90 per cent double-dose vaccination coverage, entry restrictions will be scrapped for vaccinated domestic and international arrivals.

Gold Coast’s Dr Sonu Haikerwal said the public’s opinion on Covid-19 would be determined by what happens once restrictions were eased.

“The facts will drive how it turns out,” Dr Haikerwal said.

“If people start seeing jam-packed emergency departments, if they start seeing people dying – the tone will change.”

Queensland Health and the federal health department have been contacted for comment.

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