Protesters hold minute’s silence at rally for unvaccinated people who have lost their job

Hundreds of people have converged on Parliament Lawns for a Reclaim the Line rally protesting against mandatory Covid vaccinations. SEE THE VIDEO >>

A FORMER Tasmanian MP has lashed parliamentarians for not turning up at a Hobart rally to protest against mandates for Covid vaccinations.

Allison Ritchie, who was the youngest person elected to the Legislative Council, said she was concerned about divisions in the community between those who were fully vaccinated and those who were unvaccinated.

“It is troubling that no elected representatives are here because surely it is their role to listen to a gathering as big as this,” Ms Ritchie said.

“The people here are full of concern.

“It should not be anyone else’s right to know who is or isn’t vaccinated.

“I’m not an anti-vaxxer but it is no way to treat people who are unvaccinated.”

Reclaim the Line rally at Parliament Lawns and Salamanca. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Ritchie, who was a Labor MLC from 2001 to 2009 and refused to say whether she was vaccinated, said she had turned up to rallies over a proposed development at Ralphs Bay despite advice not to attend.

“People should not be losing their jobs because they haven’t been vaccinated, there has to be a better way to deal with this,” she said.

Former Pembroke MLC Allison Ritchie at the rally. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Hundreds of people attended the Reclaim the Line rally on Parliament Lawns and then marched through Salamanca Place chanting for freedom.

A minute’s silence was held to remember people who had lost their jobs because they were unvaccinated.

One woman told the rally she was not anti-vaccination but was concerned at “taking away an individual’s right to choose”.

Hundreds turned out for the Reclaim the Line rally. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Clifton Campbell told the crowd he was double vaccinated but had suffered “a cardiac event and detached retina in my right eye and blood clotting” after having the Covid vaccination.

“The doctors said that was an unfortunate coincidence,” he said.

Former GP Dr Stephen Hindley described vaccination mandates as “medical apartheid”.

“We should not stand by and see this assault on our children,” he said.

The Reclaim the Line rally at Parliament Lawns. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Rally spokesman Reg Watson said people’s livelihoods were being threatened and children were next in line for the mandates.

“We believe in retaining our right to choose our own medical interventions without enforcement,” he said.

“These mandates are against the Australian Constitution, the Nuremberg Code and absolute common sense.”