“That’s rubbish”: Jacqui Lambie slams Pauline Hanson’s discrimination bill
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has dubbed One Nation the “enemy of healthcare workers” after the party proposed a bill banning discrimination against unvaccinated people.
Senator Lambie accused Pauline Hanson, who proposed the bill, of thriving on discrimination regarding immigration and other issues.
“One Nation wants autistic children to be taken out of public schools because, and I quote, they are a ‘strain’ on the rest of the class,” Senator Lambie said.
“One Nation wants a ban on any immigration from majority Muslim countries, even if the person isn’t Muslim.
“People don’t choose what country they are born in, that is discrimination.
“Being held accountable for your own actions isn’t called discrimination, it’s called being - you wouldn’t believe it - a God damn, bloody adult.”
“That’s right, it’s being an adult. It’s putting others before yourself. That’s what this country is supposed to be about.”
Senator Lambie said state-enforced lockdowns and border restrictions - which have prompted anti-lockdown protests across the country - weren’t fuelled by discrimination.
“We don’t have lockdowns and border restrictions because state premiers love discrimination, that’s rubbish,” she said.
“We have them because they don’t want people dying.
“This is the only weapon we have and we need to do everything we can to keep ourselves safe and our children safe.”
Following a heated debate, the Senate halted the progress of the bill by 44 votes to five.
But, the five proponents of the bill included Coalition Senators Matt Canavan, Gerard Rennick, Alex Antic, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and Sam McMahon.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended the five dissenters and insisted that the Liberal-National parties could deal with differing opinions.
very strong speech from Jacqui Lambie, bluntly opposing One Nation's vaccine mandate "discrimination" bill:
"that's the way it is. We do that to keep people safe. How about that?"#auspol pic.twitter.com/sXv0DZtviq— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) November 22, 2021
In Question Time on Monday, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese questioned Mr Morrison’s decision to mandate vaccinations for some Australians in light of party members opposing mandates.
“Why does the Prime Minister claim he is opposed to mandatory vaccinations when he has imposed mandatory vaccinations on aged care workers, Australians returning home, quarantine workers and even journalists attending his own press conferences?” Mr Albanese asked.
Mr Morrison replied that these rules came from following the health advice.
“The government doesn’t oppose mandatory vaccinations for health workers and aged care workers and disability workers,” he said.
“Mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers, for aged care workers, for those working with vulnerable people was the clear medical advice.
“It has been essential to take a series of decisions to protect Australians (but) there is a time for governments to step back.”
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