Victoria’s lower house passes bill to block unvaccinated politicians from parliament

A Liberal MP has labelled Victoria’s vaccine mandate as “medical apartheid” after a new law baning unvaccinated MPs from entering parliament passed.

A Liberal MP has labelled the state’s vaccine mandate “medical apartheid”, as Victorians going to work on Friday will need to have received at least one dose.

If they have not had their first jab, under the state’s jab mandate, they will need to prove they have a booking by October 22 and be fully vaccinated by November 26.

It comes as a motion passed parliament on Thursday evening that will ban MPs from entering parliament if they fail to declare their vaccination status.

It’s understood at least three MPs will be affected.

While the motion received cross-party support in both houses, Liberal MP Neil Angus voted against it, labelling the mandate “medical apartheid”.

He said Victoria was racing towards a “totalitarian regime”.

“In a few days time, Victoria will be a two-class society,” Mr Angus said.

“This motion is actually not about vaccinations, it is about freedoms.

Neil Angus labelled the mandate ‘medical apartheid’. Picture: David Geraghty

“I’m standing here for the many thousands of Victorians who are about to lose their jobs tomorrow as a result of exercising their conscience, and their free choice. I’m standing here for the people who have been coerced into being vaccinated.”

Liberal leader Matthew Guy said he didn’t agree with Mr Angus’ “point of view”.

“I can’t force a 60 year old man to get a medical procedure. What I believe in is educating people as to why it’s so important, and whether it’s Neil or someone else who doesn’t believe in it, we try to encourage and educate,” he said outside parliament.

Premier Daniel Andrews said Mr Angus’ comments were “deeply offensive”.

“I could not disagree more,” he said.

The motion passed the Legislative Council on Thursday night, with 31 votes for the motion and four against.

Leader of the government in the Upper House, Jaclyn Symes, said the motion was “relatively uncontroversial” and made parliament consistent with other Victorian workplaces.

“We should all strive to be leaders. I think we can all agree that we don’t deserve special treatment,” Ms Symes said.

An amendment by Liberal Democrats MP David Limbrick, which would allow MPs and parliamentary staff to enter parliament with a rapid antigen test, was unsuccessful.

“By having regular testing, parliamentarians and staff will be safer than if they provide their private vaccine information,” Mr Limbrick said.

“This is the kind of compromise we should be making throughout Victoria, so that people making choices about their own bodies are not left feeling like second class citizens.”

Outspoken Liberal MP Bernie Finn, who told the council he was vaccinated, said the motion was “discrimination on a medical basis” and was a breach of human rights.

“The world has absolutely gone mad,” Mr Finn said.

“To violate somebody’s right to medical privacy (is) so totally wrong. This motion is possibly one of the worst pieces of material that we have seen come before this parliament.”