Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner has come under fire for a speech berating those opposed to the Northern Territory’s vaccine mandate, saying they can “shove it”. In the clip, Gunner told the people of the region that even if they are themselves vaccinated, they are still considered “anti-vax” if they oppose mandates forcing others to be vaccinated against ethical or health concerns.
At a press conference on Monday, a reporter asked Gunner, “Do you think at all that your rhetoric around calling people anti-vaxxers, some of who were vaccinated, has had an impact at all on vaccine take-up in parts of the Territory?”
A visibly infuriated Gunner responded, “No, and I’m going to repeat it: If you are anti-mandate, you are absolutely anti-vax. I don’t care what your personal vaccination status is. If you support, champion, give a green light to, give comfort to [or] support anybody who argues against the vaccine, you are an anti-vaxxer, absolutely. Your personal vaccination status is utterly irrelevant.”
“If you are anti-mandate you are absolutely anti-vax, I don’t care what your personal vaccination status is”, says the NT Premier Michael Gunner.
🙄😳🤔pic.twitter.com/Xa9ecTYbN2 #COVID19Aus 🇦🇺
— Sophie Elsworth (@sophieelsworth) November 22, 2021
He continued: “If you campaign against the mandate, if you campaign against people being vaccinated in vulnerable settings, teachers in classrooms […] If you are out there in any way, shape or form, campaigning against this mandate, you are absolutely anti-vax.”
Gunner’s comments are in sharp contrast to the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has urged state and territory governments to allow Australians to “move forward with the freedoms that should be theirs”. Specifically referring to Queensland, he criticised restrictions on unvaccinated residents, and said they “should be able to go out and get a cup of coffee”.
The Northern Territory has one of Australia’s most stringent vaccination mandates, which has helped raise the jurisdiction’s double-dose rate to 81 per cent. Under the mandate, most workers are required to have had at least one COVID jab by 12 November, and a second dose before Christmas; those who refuse to be vaccinated are not allowed to attend their workplaces.
The harsh rule has prompted weekly protests and has generated criticism from some members of the business community, who have struggled to replace unvaccinated staff who cannot go to work.
Gunner went as far as to tell those opposed to mandates to “stuff it”: “People who are actually supporting the idea of a teacher being unvaccinated in a remote community classroom, with kids who cannot be vaccinated, I reject that utterly […] Stuff it, shove it, we are absolutely going to make sure as many territories as possible are vaccinated,” he said, continuing to lambaste anyone who “comes” for the controversial vaccine mandate.
“That is our best protection against this thing […] Our vaccine mandate is absolutely crucial to protecting lives, particularly Aboriginal lives (aged five and up) and I will never walk away from supporting vaccines. And anyone out there who comes for the mandate, you are anti-vax.”
Whilst there was support for Gunner’s comments, with some stating that they “supported him,” with others leaving comments telling readers to “get vaccinated,” American Republican politician Thomas Massie was less than impressed, and tweeted a screenshot of the video, telling Gunner: “Seek help”.
Others also took issue with Gunner’s remarks, with one user saying they were “tired of the generalising and labelling” of those who have not been vaccinated or stand against mandatory vaccines.
Seek help @fanniebay pic.twitter.com/iYIBAfQLAL
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) November 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/AussieCitizen1/status/1462834244669952006?s=20
Im tired of the generalising and labelling. Stop thinking you know peoples reasons either way
— Bilvis (@Bilvis2) November 24, 2021
Someone needs to take a chill pill. He's a little fired up.
— Jake Williams (@jakewilliamsjrw) November 22, 2021
https://twitter.com/grhylln/status/1462733324951044097?s=20
Totally unhinged. Fear fear fear.
— brucechant 🇦🇺 (@brucechant) November 22, 2021