The organiser behind a Special Meeting of Electors at the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire Council said she requested the meeting as part of a bigger initiative by ‘pro-choice’ groups across WA.
The Shire announced the meeting on Monday, February 21, after receiving a request signed by at least 100 residents.
Organisers will request the Shire take an advocacy position against mandatory vaccination, to “provide leadership and guidance to the community in the district.”
Shire resident and meeting organiser Deb Mullins, who said her husband was recently stood down from his workplace of 33 years over mandate policies, is hoping the meeting “will allow people to talk about what is happening to them in the community with these mandates.”
On February 22 the Shire of Esperance voted to not support a petition “to oppose vaccine mandates and become a “Pro-Choice Community.””
However, the council voted in favour of writing to the WA Premier and members of the State Parliament “expressing support for local industry and how these mandates are adversely effecting (sic) some elements of our community.”
“With this in mind – we will continue to keep following COVID recommendations and mandates and, to help keep our elderly and vulnerable safe, request our community do this too,” wrote the Esperance Shire council in a Facebook post.
In January of this year, Fremantle Council voted to not support a request to lobby the state government to reconsider its mandatory vaccination policy.
Fremantle Mayor Hannah Fitzhardinge said the only way for her community to remain safe was for people to get vaccinated.
“I have listened to people on both sides of this discussion with an open mind, have read and researched, and have spoken to professionals working in healthcare and emergency management,” said Mayor Fitzhardinge.
“Vaccination is the way we will get through this pandemic with the least loss of human life,” she said.
As of Feb 27, the Australian Government Department of Health reported 88.7 per cent of people aged 16 and over have been fully vaccinated in the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire.
The Special Meeting of Electors will be held at 6.30pm on Tuesday, March 8 in the Civic Centre, 6 Paterson St, Mundijong.
