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Examples of repugnant discrimination as unvaccinated in Victoria are persecuted and ostracised

Ironic that unvaccinated people in Victoria are getting some of our country's harshest discrimination restrictions as Prime Minister introduces the Religious Discrimination Bill

As our Prime Minister introduces the Religious Discrimination Bill, it is ironic that unvaccinated people in Victoria are on the receiving end of some of our country's harshest discrimination restrictions.

By news@gippsland - 24th November 2021 - Back to News

Today the Prime Minister introduced the Religious Discrimination Bill. In doing so, he talked about all the good reasons why we as a nation must say no to discrimination in all its forms. He noted that this bill will add to existing Commonwealth legislation that criminalises discrimination on the basis of age, race, gender, disability and human rights.

Lifeline during the recent catastrophe

Let me paint a picture of this repugnant discrimination. Yesterday my friend, who I'll call Kate-not her real name-rang to let me know that, from today, she can no longer go to her local agricultural hardware store to purchase feed for her livestock.

While pet stores are considered essential, stores that sell livestock feed are not. But it turns out that the store also sells petrol. As petrol is deemed an essential retail item, my friend was confused about why she couldn't simply pick up some feed at the same time as paying for the petrol.

Having lived in this tight-knit community for more than 10 years, she knows the staff well. In fact, they were a lifeline during the recent electricity blackouts after the storms, when they helped source a generator for her. She even promotes the business to clients because of their friendly and competent approach.

Just following orders

When Kate entered the store, she saw all the new signs reminding people of the need to check in with their vaccination status. A bit bemused about what these signs might mean for her as an unvaccinated person, Kate half-jokingly asked the manager, 'can't I come shopping here anymore if I'm not double vaxed?'

To her utter shock, he replied, 'No, you can't, effective tomorrow morning.' Kate then asked, 'So, if I come in tomorrow and fill my car up with diesel, can I come in and pay for it?' He said, 'Oh, that's different. You could buy petrol; that's essential. I can't ask you about your medical status when you buy petrol.' This is exactly the same checkout at which Kate pays for the other items. A bit perplexed, Kate checked a bit further.

'So you're saying that livestock feed is not essential?' The manager said, 'Kate, the advice has come from the top. I'm just following orders. You have to disclose your medical status.' Kate, who is of German heritage, took a deep breath and replied, 'Sorry, but I come from a country where they once "just followed orders". Don't worry,' she said. 'I won't make your life a misery, but I won't return until this madness stops.'

Restrictions based on science

How can these restrictions be based on so-called science or health advice? You only need to look at the different approaches across Australia to know they can't possibly be - or at least that, clearly, there's a broad range of health advice that can be chosen by governments to suit their own political needs.

For instance, how is it that New South Wales is reducing restrictions for unvaccinated people at the same time that Victoria is doubling up on them? We are a fractured nation of people who are hurting, and I don't understand why more of us in this house aren't standing up to call out this divisive and repugnant discrimination.

I know this woman to be strong and resilient, and she says she's okay, but the point is that she shouldn't have to be okay. What about the hundreds of thousands of people that are not okay-the ones that for many and varied reasons have made the choice that they would prefer to lose their job, risk their home and their ability to care for and feed their family, rather than be coerced into accepting a new vaccine about which they are unsure?

Denying freedom

The government has spent a lot of money on so-called educating people about what they're about. But it comes down to looking like coercive control, to me, when the Victorian government is isolating you from your personal support systems, preventing you from meeting up and spending time with other family members and friends, monitoring your activity through the day by exactly what I did before.

I came in here, denying your freedom and autonomy, malicious name-calling, belittling you, putting you down, limiting your access to money or jobs and controlling aspects of your health and body.

There's always a bright side

My friend is one of the strongest, most resilient people I have ever met in my life, but it breaks my heart to know that she is enduring this. If you're unvaccinated in Victoria, you will be persecuted; you will be ostracised.

Why do you think there are 50,000 people marching in the streets in Victoria? There is a bright side-there's always a bright side: the connections they're making with like-minded people are connections that will last the rest of their lives.

It's rather ironic, then, that, while this bill is being debated today, unvaccinated people in Victoria are on the receiving end of some of our country's harshest discrimination restrictions

Pictures from Human Rights Law Centre website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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  Life Saving Victoria will release the Victorian 2020 - 21 Drowning Report
• Minister for Planning Richard Wynne shuts down Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project due to unacceptable environmental effects
  Council is grateful for those who participated in the environmental effects statement and IAC hearing processes.
• Andrews Labor Government 'to work from home if possible' causing strain in many businesses within CBD's across Victoria says Russell Northe
  Member for Morwell Russell Northe submits questions to parliament for the minister for industry support and recovery.
• Parks Minister Lily D'Ambrosio should apologise to East Gippsland businesses for slow response to repair bushfire damage
  New staff to help repair infrastructure damaged during the two-year ago bushfires has finally been announced.
• Free Trade Agreement: Russell Broadbent says our prosperity is in our hands
  Grabbing every trade opportunity to help boost the economy and also people who had lost their jobs due to industry closures.
• Foster Stadium upgraded with $253,000 from South Gippsland Shire Council and $2.26M from Victorian government
  Local basketball, netball, football, and badminton are just some of the sports set to benefit from the recent transformation of the Foster Stadium thanks to the Victorian government.
• Calls for caution over long weekend as June fishing risk data revealed by Life Saving Victoria
  Life Saving Victoria is calling for caution over the long weekend and throughout June, after data from the past 20 years revealed fishing as one of the month's high-risk activities for drowning.
• Free work life balance workshop for people who work non-traditional hours to be held in Toora
  Gambling free event to go to in your spare time.
• Darren Chester writes to Minister Bridget McKenzie after Sarsfield community shockingly misses out on bushfire recovery funding
  Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has urged the government to intervene immediately and fix a "farcical situation" which has seen community-led bushfire recovery projects excluded from consideration for recovery grants.
• Tim Bull says Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio failure to ensure Buchan pool and East Cape Boardwalk are safe is disgraceful
  Lack of comprehension and no appetite from the government to reopen Buchan, also, lack of interest in reopening it has disappointed many in the community.
• Cost of living reduced by former minister for infrastructure with record investment of $110 billion over 10 years
  Neglected investment in programs and projects directly aimed at reducing the cost of living for Australian
• Russell Northe questions Minister on when decision on proposed Delburn Wind Farm will be made
  Member for Morwell, Russell Northe has last week in Parliament questioned the Minister for Planning as to when a decision on the proposed Delburn Wind Farm is likely to be made.
• Fish Creek Tea Cosy Festival 2022 organisers treated to high tea and tour at parliament house
  Organisers of Fish Creek's famous tea cosy festival have been treated to high tea and a tour of State Parliament as special guests of The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath.
• Sun sets on Gippsland life saving patrols in 2022 as busiest lifesaving season in Victoria ends
  The red and yellow flags will be taken down on Gippsland clubs and state-wide beaches for the last time this season, ending Victoria's busiest lifesaving season to date.
• Caution while driving needed in August as data shows most dangerous month for transport-related drowning in Victoria
  Life Saving Victoria (LSV) is calling for caution while driving, as surprising new data reveals August is the most dangerous month for transport-related drowning in Victoria.
• Fertiliser shortage highlights multi-billion-dollar economic opportunity to bring manufacturing back to Victoria
  A new plan to relieve fertiliser shortages by increasing production in Australia has highlighted the multi-billion-dollar economic windfall a shift in focus to bring manufacturing back to Victoria could deliver.
• Nationals plan for new hospitals and more health services to fill shortages in regional Victoria
  New and upgraded hospitals and more beds to treat vulnerable Victorians desperate to shake the insidious claws of drug and alcohol addiction will change lives and save lives.
• Outrageous proposed laws by Andrews government allows Premier to lockdown without warning and if no pandemic disease in Victoria
  New legislation before the Victorian Parliament is seeking to permanently enshrine government over-reach into the lives and livelihoods of regional Victorians.
• Gippsland Performing Arts Centre officially opened by Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas as centerpiece of the $42M Latrobe Creative Precinct
  The much-anticipated Gippsland Performing Arts Centre has opened its doors to the public, with the state-of-the-art space to become a drawcard for locals and visitors bringing top acts to the region.
• Free camping plan along crown river frontages sparks bushfire concern for Gippsland and regional Victoria
  Figures reported this week show Forest Fire Management Victoria attended 1435 bushfires in the last financial year - 860 were caused by unattended campfires.