‘Really uncomfortable’: Coalition MPs speak out against vaccine passports

A growing number of Coalition MPs are speaking out against the use of vaccine certificates for domestic travel and attendance at venues and events, with at least two threatening to cross the floor if the government brings on legislation.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Wednesday revealed the government’s expenditure review committee of cabinet last week backed a proposal for QR code vaccination certificates for international travel, linking people’s vaccination status on their MyGov accounts with new digital certificates.

Liberal MP Russell Broadbent says he is uncomfortable with the idea of a vaccine passport.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed this week national cabinet was also discussing extending the measure to domestic travel but stressed any move to allow businesses to ask patrons for proof of vaccinations would have to be made by the states.

Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz said while he encouraged everyone to consider getting vaccinated as soon as possible, “vaccine passports should not be a blunt instrument to force people to be vaccinated by locking them out of society”.

“Denied or limited access to government and private businesses goods and services should not be based on one’s medical status and the idea of a domestic ‘vaccine passport’ is a dangerous one that can create a class of citizens,” he said.

“The question then becomes, and which no-one seems willing to discuss, is how far do the authorities go to restrict these freedoms?

“How many vaccinations and booster shots or other medical procedures will be required on a person’s vaccine passport to allow them to participate as full citizens? This is a slippery slope. Once the genie is out of the bottle, there will be no turning back and freedom will be seriously compromised”.

Victorian Liberal MP Russell Broadbent said while private companies were entitled to make whatever decisions they want, he felt many Australians would not support a mandatory system and would not rule out voting against the measure in parliament.

“I have to say I feel uncomfortable, really uncomfortable, about the use of vaccine passports being made mandatory for domestic travel,” he said.

“Over the past few months I’ve received passionate emails and calls from many constituents pleading with me to vote against any introduction of vaccine passports, but equally I know many people are supportive of the idea.”

Nationals MP George Christensen, who has previously threatened to split from the Coalition but has never followed through, vowed to vote against any enabling legislation for vaccine certificates.

In a statement to NCA Newswire, Mr Christensen said he had made his views clear to Mr Morrison and the Coalition party room on Tuesday.

“I’ve told the Prime Minister as recently as the party room meeting yesterday that we should not be pushing for the invasion of people’s medical privacy by enabling businesses to ask staff and customers to confirm their vaccination,” he said.

“We should not be pushing for discrimination against Australian citizens who choose not to undergo a particular medical treatment, and that means we shouldn’t be allowing the refusal of employment or service because someone hasn’t been vaccinated.

“This is a matter of principle for me and if there is any enabling legislation that has to come forward I will not be supporting it.”