Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio pleads with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to explain Covid vaccine mandate rules

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio says councillors have been hit with hundreds of queries from concerned residents about the new vaccine mandate rules - and he wants answers from the premier.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk; Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio.

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio has pleaded with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to end the “confusion and anxiety” around the upcoming vaccine mandate.

In a letter to the premier, obtained by The Chronicle, Mr Antonio said councillors had received nearly 500 emails from the public about the new rules, which are expected to come into effect on December 17.

He said Ms Palaszczuk and the chief health officer needed to issue a health directive as soon as possible on how the Covid-19 vaccination rules would work.

“We strongly support the need to keep our community safe, based on the advice from the chief medical officer, however at this time the proposed changes have divided parts of our community, causing confusion and anxiety,” Mr Antonio wrote.

“Councillors have received close to 500 emails over the past week from residents clearly concerned with the new restrictions that come into effect on December 17.

“There are also concerns from our residents about how the mandate contradicts the freedoms of Australians.

“Small business and local industry … now face possible closures with the current plans preventing unvaccinated people to enter some businesses and venues.”

Mr Antonio outlined a number of inconsistencies in the proposed restrictions, based on the information currently available.

The issues relate to council-owned facilities, mixed-category venues, enforcement measures and what will happen when Queensland hits a 90 per cent vaccination rate.

“Can you please advise whether the mandate will apply to council facilities, and what the differences will be to the businesses and venues specified in the mandate plan?” he wrote.

“How (should) mixed-category venues be managed, such as hospitality outlets within community venues and outdoor recreational facilities?

“What obligations will there be on staff and/or volunteers at affected venues to check the vaccination status of entrants and to enforce exclusion requirements?

“What new public health directives will be issued once Queensland reaches the 90 per cent target?”

It comes just a few days after Mr Antonio again called for clarity around the rules.

It is understood council-owned facilities like libraries and art galleries won’t be subjected to the same rules as state-owned facilities.

The Toowoomba region is on track to hit an 80 per cent vaccination rate by the end of the week, with more than 90 per cent of eligible residents having been jabbed at least once.