Livingstone Shire’s plea for Premier to reconsider planned Covid restrictions

A small Queensland council is pleading with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to reconsider planned Covid restrictions, fearing they will force the closure of local businesses and hinder the state’s economic recovery. Full details here.

Livingstone Shire councillors.

Livingstone Shire Council will write to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, asking her to reconsider planned restrictions on unvaccinated Queenslanders.

At a special council meeting on Thursday, councillors voted in favour of this course of action.

Ms Palaszczuk last week announced restrictions for unvaccinated people from December 17, or whenever the state’s vaccination of people aged 16 and over hits 80 per cent.

Under the new rules, only fully vaccinated people will be able to attend pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, music festivals and stadiums, where all staff also need to have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Livingstone’s decision on Thursday comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison criticised Queensland’s planned restrictions saying the Federal Government opposes vaccination mandates.

The special council meeting followed a public meeting at Yeppoon Town Hall on Monday where hundreds of community members and business owners expressed strong and unreserved concern about the impacts that the new restrictions would have on business, patrons and employees.

Livingstone Mayor Andy Ireland.

Livingstone Mayor Andy Ireland said the council had heard the “strong message” coming from the community and it wanted to relay that to the Premier.

“Our local businesses fear that these restrictions will hinder Queensland’s economic recovery by not allowing full participation following the reopening of borders,” Cr Ireland said.

“It will also hinder business, to the point of closure in some instances, operating at full potential, as regional Queensland’s pool of employee candidates will be reduced by the new restrictions.

“Local businesses also remain unsure about their obligations and liabilities for employees under Workplace Health and Safety legislation.”

The council’s deliberations were viewed by a full public gallery and via livestream, with dozens of other community members gathering outside the Council Chambers in a visible show of support.

In parliament on Thursday, Ms Palaszczuk said the government looked at a whole range of measures.

“The Chief Health Officer advised us, in relation to the final plan that we submitted to the public, that the mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers is absolutely necessary,” she said.

“What they found overseas is that people were coming into the hospitals with Covid and giving it to other people who were in there for other surgeries.

“Patients and health workers were contracting Covid. Therefore, it is absolutely vital because we want to keep our hospitals operating.

“In relation to businesses, we know that people who are coming here want to know that they are going to feel completely safe going into a restaurant, a cafe, a bar or a nightclub and that their families, especially their children, are not going to be subject to getting Covid.

“This is absolutely a safety measure. It is absolutely a healthcare measure and it is absolutely about keeping communities safe.”

Keppel MP Brittany Lauga and Federal MP for Capricornia Michelle Landry have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Livingstone Shire’s plea for Premier to reconsider planned Covid restrictions