‘It’s called being a goddamn, bloody adult’: Senator’s vax rant

A fiery debate erupted in the Senate over Covid-19 vaccine mandates, with one senator spectacularly lashing opponents who claim discrimination and another branding Prime Minister Scott Morrison as weak.

A fiery debate erupted in the Senate over Covid-19 vaccine mandates, with Jacqui Lambie spectacularly lashing opponents to the rules saying “it’s not discrimination, it’s called being a goddamn, bloody adult”.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, and Government senators Gerard Rennick and Alex Antic are threatening to hold up government legislation unless more is done to stop restrictions on unvaccinated people.

Appearing via video link on Monday, Senator Hanson moved a private members bill seeking to ban vaccine mandates enforced by state governments, including Queensland.

Senator Pauline Hanson via video conference in the Senate Chamber in Parliament House Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Senator Hanson accused Labor state governments of enforcing the mandates as a political weapon, not health reasons.

“All the Prime Minister has done is allow the Premiers to grab for power,” she said.

“This is what the Labor Governments are doing to undermine the Morrison Government so the PM is seen as weak.

“And I’ll say it, the Prime Minister is weak.”

The NSW Government, which is a Coalition Government, also has restrictions on unvaccinated people which will lift on December 15, while the ACT, a Labor Government, has no restrictions on unvaccinated people.

Tasmania Senator Jacqui Lambie said the vaccine mandates were about protecting the community and pushed back against One Nation’s proposed bill.

“Being held accountable for your own actions is not discrimination, it’s called being, would you believe it, a goddamn, bloody adult,” she said.

Senator Jacqui Lambie said vaccine mandates were about being held responsible for your actions. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Senator Rennick said he would abstain from government legislation unless action was taken to end vaccine mandates.

“This is no longer about health, but politicians grabbing power for the sake of power,” he said.

LNP Senator Matt Canavan said he was vaccinated and encouraged people to get vaccinated, but opposed the mandates, calling them “unfair, cruel, unnecessary and un-Australian”.

“What happened to ‘my body, my choice’,” Senator Canavan said, using the abortion pro-choice slogan.

“Name me one country where vaccine passports are working. Just one.”

The bill was not expected to get the support needed to pass.

Originally published as ‘It’s called being a goddamn, bloody adult’: Senator’s vax rant