17/12/2022
So it's been a year to the day since the State Gov enacted segregation by vaccination status on its own people, limiting access to society and creating division among citizens.
It saw large sections of the community face unemployment and numerous businesses hit hard by the loss of staff and patronage with some closing their doors for good.
It was arguably one of the most divisive government decisions in modern history and the start of a very slippery slope for discrimination and demonisation of whole sections of our society.
Despite the heat and pelting sun, dedicated people from all over Noosa protested at our State MP Sandy Bolton's office on 11th Dec 2021, calling on the State government to stop the mandates and for our State representative to take action.
It was a snap rally, organised in only 2 weeks with 16 speakers from all over the community, including young and old, business owners, healthcare workers (including Queensland Health Practitioners Alliance - QHPA, a local psychologist and a paramedic) and even concerned politicians with the guts to speak out.
We had Cr Joe Natoli from Sunshine Coast Council in person and Senator Gerard Rennick, Senator Malcolm Roberts and lawyer Tony Nikolic from AFL Solicitors: all make empathetic and passionate speeches by phone link.
Unfortunately our own local politicians didn't take up our invitation to address their community including Federal MP Llew O'Brien, the Noosa Mayor and Noosa Councillors, many in fact ignoring our attempts to contact them.
MP Sandy Bolton came for approximately 15 minutes accompanied by 2 police escorts.
She gave a somewhat controversial speech and unfortunately showed little empathy for those facing unemployment and segregation.
She also inferred there was no legal issue with the mandates and that because the State and Federal governments were in opposition any issues would have already been raised.
Immediately after her speech she left to go to an event in town, missing the next speaker, a 14 year old boy with social anxiety disorder (arguably the best speaker of the day!) and all proceeding speakers.
Unfortunately our pleas fell on deaf ears and the mandates stayed in effect for many months with little to no action from our local elected representatives, resulting in devastating outcomes for our community and local businesses.
Now the mandates appear to have been dropped, however they have just changed form.
QLD Health workers are now mandated under "employment directives" and the State is continuing to put pressure on businesses by making vaccination an expectation under workplace health and safety.
Unfortunately our elected representatives are not addressing this issue either or the impacts on informed consent (which must be free of coercion).
On a postive note, the decision by the State and the rally itself, helped bring together community members from all walks of life.
In fact many had been vaccinated, but were facing massive loses to their businesses after covid measures and border lockdowns.
In fact at the time, multiple shop fronts on Hastings St were vacant, never before seen in Noosa.
This only got worse after the mandates.
We canvassed many businesses (mainly hospitality) from all over Noosa, many were against the directives, but were fearful of speaking out, one business saying they didn't want the Council to target them.
This was the unfortunate state of society in Dec 2021.
🙏 Thank you to all who came and stood for their rights, especially those that gave their time to speak passionately on the issue and all those who volunteered and helped spread the word.
We will never give up! 💚
Nick Cooke
