Unvaccinated Geraldton workers at risk of losing jobs protest State Government jab mandate

A crowd of about 100 gathered outside Geraldton MP Lara Dalton’s office on Friday to protest against the State Government’s recent “no jab, no job” mandate.

Supporters of the group Pro Choice Midwest peacefully demonstrated outside Ms Dalton’s Marine Terrace office to oppose the vaccine mandate for approximately 75 per cent of the workforce that Premier Mark McGowan announced last Wednesday.

Protesters ranged from parents with babies and children in tow to older people and even a nurse in uniform, who said as of next month she would not be allowed on her work property or face a fine. Speaking to the Geraldton Guardian and making speeches during the demonstration, some protesters said they did believe there was a virus, but the vaccine had not been adequately tested or was ineffective.

Others said they did not believe COVID-19 was as much of a risk as has been reported by Government and media, while others did not believe the virus had even been proven to exist.

Mother-of-four Joley Holliday said she had to close her business because it had been “heavily affected by the lockdown” in March 2020.

“I’m here for my four children and I believe they should have a right, as we do, to choose what happens to their bodies,” she said.

“I’m not (vaccinated), and I won’t be. I won’t be coerced. I believe that I have a higher chance of beating COVID without the vaccination than with and I believe I have the right to form natural immunity to it.

“This pandemic is not just causing problems to health, it’s wiping out the middle class and turning it into the lower class, because you’re forcing people to get a vaccination against their will or they will be forced into poverty.”

Former cruise ship tour guide Stacey Connell, who claimed she had voted for Ms Dalton at the last election, said she was appalled the Government had no liability for people who experienced adverse affects from the vaccine.

“We don’t trust our Government, they’ve been lying to us. We have our own beliefs about our health and our immune systems,” she said. “I’m not an anti-vaxxer. All my children are vaccinated, I’ve had many vaccinations to go overseas ... what I am against is being forced and businesses being punished. I’m not likely to get my job back now because I won’t have a vaccine.”

Protest organiser Paulina Kwiatkowska announced the group would meet outside Ms Dalton’s office every Friday at 11am for the foreseeable future.

Ms Dalton was not at the protest. Her staff said she was at a personal appointment. She was contacted for comment.

Her electorate officer Judy Riggs engaged with protesters and stood outside the office throughout their demonstration.

The WA Government says the vaccines are safe, have been tested and are effective in preventing people from becoming seriously ill or dying from COVD-19.