Cairns vaccine rally: Mandate warning for anti-vax protesters
Cairns vaccine protesters hoping the government will cave on its impending mandate have been urged to get vaxxed as soon as possible – because this is no bluff.
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A THUNDEROUS crowd of vaccine mandate protesters in Cairns declared a steadfast refusal to budge as strict new rules edge near – but the response was just as definite.
The State Government says it is not bluffing, and unvaccinated Queenslanders will soon find their movements severely curtailed to preserve public health.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the Cairns Esplanade on Saturday to protest what they labelled tyranny as “freedom” marches hit major cities across Australia.
Parking spaces were blotted out for kilometres as the massive crowd filled the park next to Muddy’s Playground before winding along the mudflat boardwalk.
There were numerous suggestions the Queensland Government would cave on its impending mandates if unvaccinated residents stood tough.
Cairns MP Michael Healy, who was name checked in unflattering speeches several times, said it was no bluff.
“If people think there’s bluffing going on, they only have to look at the 1250-plus people who have died in Victoria, the more than 600 who have died in NSW,” he said.
“This is a deadly serious matter and the government is trying its best to protect and preserve life.
“I understand that some people are concerned with the government’s directives, however our goal is to protect our community – in particular those most vulnerable – from this terrible virus.”
Division 9 Cairns regional councillor Brett Olds received the most rapturous applause at the rally, which he estimated had about 7000 people.
Speaking afterwards, he said he believed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk would eventually crumble on the mandate measures.
“Tourism and hospitality operators have gone and got double dosed, they’ve masked up, they’ve gone to one person per 4sq m and they’ve brought in QR codes,” he said.
“They were told if you do this, it will get back to normal.
“Instead they’re now being told they have to police this, they’re going to lose 20-30 per cent of their staff … and they’re going to lose 20-30 per cent of their local business because people aren’t jabbed.”
Cr Olds also took aim at Queensland’s requirement for interstate travellers to return a negative PCR test 72 hours before arrival – which cost $145 a pop compared to $7.20 for rapid antigen tests.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath put to rest claims the government’s strict mandates were in a state of flux.
“Our plan has been outlined. We’re sticking to that plan,” she said.
Apart from a stray heckler calling for politicians to be killed, the rally in Cairns was a peaceful event.
That man’s interjection was quickly doused out with a suggestion to instead “kill them with kindness”.
Ms D’Ath said the government supported the right to protest but labelled recent death threats made against her and other Queensland Labor politicians as “disappointing”.
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