Pauline Hanson calls out new “scaremongering” rules for politicians
One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has called out new rules at Parliament House that could see her forced to isolate when other MPs would not need to.
The new rules announced on Thursday afternoon could prevent federal politicians like Ms Hanson from travelling to Canberra without quarantining beforehand, while fully vaccinated staff would be able to skip isolation.
Ms Hanson has been vocal about refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and has said she was going to seek advice on the issue and her rights as an MP.
“It’s not going to change my views about getting vaccinated. I already told the government I won’t attend the October sittings anyway,” she told NCA NewsWire.
“It’s going to put the Coalition government into a bit of a bind with how they deal with this.
“My understanding is that they cannot stop an elected MP from attending the parliament to do their duties.”
ACT chief minister Andrew Barr announced the changes to isolation rules for federal MPs, senators, and staff from areas impacted by COVID-19 who had received both jabs ahead of October’s sittings and estimates hearings.
Mr Barr took to social media to share the news, saying that unvaccinated individuals would need to complete two weeks of isolation.
He said the new rules were made under the state’s health guidelines.
Senator Hanson said the changes were made close to the sitting week that commences on October 18, which would affect MPs who weren’t already vaccinated.
“The vaccinated person can still carry Covid so what’s the point?” she said.
“This is scaremongering. I’m not going to bow to his demands and I think they’re unrealistic.
“It’s stupid to put a person in quarantine for two weeks who doesn’t have Covid.”
The change comes as new rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals come into effect in New South Wales from Monday, with restrictions to remain in place for unvaccinated people until the start of December.
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