Sarah Zemek leads anti-mandate protest at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition centre
While Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hosted an event at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, an employee hosted a protest outside against mandatory vaccination in the state.
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WHILE Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hosted an event at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, an employee hosted a protest outside against mandatory vaccination in the state.
Sarah Zemek ackmowledged she may no longer be a staff member at the centre after holding the protest with a small group of supporters on Monday morning.
Labelling the protest Let Them Eat Cake – inspired by the last Queen of France Marie Antoinette – Ms Zemek said she would not feed the premier while others were going to lose their jobs.
“We were told last week after December 17 you’d no longer be able to work if you’re not vaccinated,” she said.
“There are young students, mothers and grandmothers losing their jobs who won’t be able to pay rent and buy food.
“I wasn’t going to serve the premier and feed her face while she let this happen.”
NEW CHO ANNOUNCED AS GOVT HOLDS FIRM ON PCR TESTS
PCR tests will still be required for border communities according to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, as she announced Dr John Gerard as Queensland’s new chief health officer.
The $150 tests are required by Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.
Travellers will have to pay for PCR tests until Queensland reaches a 90 per cent double-dosed vaccination rate, which is expected in January.
“We’re probably going to get to that 80 per cent double just a week earlier,”
Ms Palaszczuk said, “That puts us at 90 per cent in early January.”
When questioned whether border communities, or daytrippers will be able to use rapid antigen tests, Ms Palaszczuk said: “I’ll look into that, but probably not at this stage.”
“They’re also required in other states as well … We make no apologies for keeping Queenslanders safe.”
Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young stepped down last month and moved into the role of Governor, leaving the position empty for several weeks.
The state government was scrambling to find a replacement after Krispin Hajkowicz bowed out days before taking the reigns.
“We have been very fortunate in Queensland to have the services of Dr Young as our chief health officer,” Ms Palaszczuk.
“Being on the Gold Coast today I’m very proud to announce Dr John Gerrard as a our chief health officer commencing in December.”
Dr Gerrard has a long track record of research into emerging infectious diseases and vaccine development, the Premier said.
“He was recognised for ground-breaking research into the emergence of AIDS in Australia and honoured with the Humanitarian Overseas Service medal for his work in confronting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014,” she said.
“He was instrumental in designing the Gold Cost University Hospital to manage patients with highly infectious viruses like Covid.”
Dr Gerrard said it was a profound honour to take on the role and encouraged Queenslanders to keep getting vaccinated.
“It is a deep and concerning responsibility to take on this role at this time, but the responsibility is made lighter because of the actions of Queenslanders over the last 24 months,” he said.
“Times are now changing and Queenslanders have had the chance to get vaccinated.
“During the course of the next 12 months the virus will be introduced to Queensland.
“The main thing as we move forward is all Queenslanders are vaccinated against Covid-19.”
No new cases were announced overnight, with four active cases currently in quarantine.
On Monday morning 84.55 per cent of eligible Queenslanders had received the first dose of the vaccine and 73.34 per cent of people aged over 16 years were fully vaccinated.
On the Gold Coast 81.3 per cent of eligible people have had one jab and 69.8 per cent have had two vaccinations.
EARLIER: PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk to make a major Covid-19 announcement at the Gold Coast today.
This comes as Queenslanders were shocked at the backflip regarding expensive PCR tests for those crossing the border into Christmas.
Holiday-makers could be up $150 per test and forced to wait days for results, despite the state government road map stating affordable rapid antigen tests would suit.
Tweed Shire Council Mayor Chris Cherry said on Monday morning Queensland Health had provided her with an update about traveller testing requirements.
“There will be a border zone in place to ensure all border zone residents, regardless of vaccination status, can continue to enter Queensland for essential purposes once the border opens in December, without the need to meet the traveller testing requirements,” she said, quoting a health spokesperson.
“There may be less testing requirements for fully vaccinated people entering the border zone or entering Queensland from the border zone for non-essential reasons.
“We are continuing to work through the specific requirements for the 80 per cent vaccination milestone. Detailed information will be made public when available.”
Unvaxxed Gold Coast tourists and locals who booked holidays and activities also face missing out on refunds because the government changed the rules after they booked.
Thousands of unvaccinated people have requested refunds from theme parks, accommodation providers and venues because they will be blocked from attending from December 17 under the vaccine mandate.
This comes as a Gold Coast councillor accused the state government of hiding critical vaccination data which could boost the city’s jab take-up.
On Tuesday, the Bulletin reported that classified Queensland Health data showing postcode breakdowns of Covid-19 jab rates was being supplied to Gold Coast City Council.
But Division 2 Councillor William Owen-Jones said council had since been blocked from accessing it.
Cr Owen-Jones slammed the move, writing a scathing post on his Facebook page on Thursday describing the government as “precious”.
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