Former New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has strongly opposed the COVID-19 vaccine mandates, labeling them “wrong”. The retiring politician, a Catholic, made the claim during a valedictory speech on Tuesday, reflecting on the government’s response to the pandemic. He suggested that the enforcement of the vaccine mandates impinged on individual freedoms. “If the impact Read more
I had to go to Wellington last Tuesday afternoon. On the way home, rather than avoid the CBD and take the most direct route onto the Hutt motorway, I decided for no particular reason to go through town. I knew about the protest convoy that had rolled into town earlier that day but assumed it Read more
Canadians are becoming increasingly impatient with their unvaccinated countrymen, and the government is making it clear to citizens – get vaccinated or lose your job. Civil servants and anyone working in federally regulated industries who decline to get the Covid-19 shot will face unemployment. In October, Canada’s federal jobs minister added to the hard-line approach. Read more
The New Zealand Catholic bishops are prepared to tolerate the State’s sweeping public health measures, however, they want the mandates and vaccine pass requirements to be continually reviewed. Their support of the government’s Covid measures is contingent on and only justified by, “the emergency situation as it exists at this point in time.” While all Read more
The pandemic we are in the midst of is unique and it is dangerous. It is not the “common cold” that some people write to me about. Worldwide there have been over 250 million cases and just over 5 million deaths – this pandemic is unique and dangerous. As of last week, in New Zealand Read more
An estimated 5,000 people, Tuesday, took to Wellington’s streets protesting their freedom, and distrust of the government and media. The vocally loud and unmasked protesters took over the Capital’s streets and pavements as they snaked their way from Wellington’s Civic Square, through Mercer and Willis Streets and down Lambton Quay to Parliament. At one point Read more
The Ministry of Education has clarified who falls within the education sector’s vaccine mandate. On the list are those who work or volunteer in an organisation in the same campus or building as a school or early learning service. Churches and cafes are cited as examples. Staff at churches sharing a building or campus with Read more
Australian religious leaders are broadly supportive of Covid-19 vaccinations, however they are concerned a vaccine mandate could create an underclass of the unvaccinated. While turning the unvaccinated away is a public health imperative, it is theologically very difficult for many religions. Father Peter Nguyen of St Dominic’s Catholic Church in Camberwell is grateful for an Read more
A great deal has been heard of late about the use of vaccine mandates to control who can and cannot work in various organisations, from hospitals to schools, and who will or will not be allowed to attend concerts and sporting fixtures. In the midst of what can be a confusing scene, the leaders of Read more