Let parents be parents

Hello – Russell Broadbent here – your independent member for Monash Today I want to clarify my stance on the No Jab No Pay legislation. I’m no doctor and I’m certainly no giver of medical advice. But I am an elected representative in this nation, and I have a responsibility to raise the alarm on any laws or policies that may adversely impact Australians – especially families with young children, single mums and the vulnerable. My decision to seek to repeal the No Jab No Pay legislation has generated its own momentum – it’s no longer just about the No Jab No Pay coercive, punitive and discriminatory penalties, parents are finding their voice – and the unifying theme is for the government to back off and get out of their personal lives. The stories I’ve read over the past few weeks are seared on my conscience, so many parents sharing accounts of inconceivable distress and anguish. Like Sarah, who was unable to work because she was unable to access childcare because her children were unvaccinated. A decision she made because she herself had experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction to vaccines and was desperately frightened that her own children may suffer a similar reaction. Normal for a parent. After Sarah’s doctor refused to give the children an exemption, another doctor suggested she should take the children to hospital so that there was a nurse and crash cart on standby! This is horrific – it’s sick and I can’t stand by, I won’t stand by and allow this madness to continue. How dare any government bring in such rules and penalties! It’s not even a health policy! It’s a department of social services policy! Some people may be thinking I’m unhinged, a right-wing tin foil hat wearing conspiracy theorist, but I’m not and most of the people in the parliament now and over the years - know I’m not. Cheap shot name-calling doesn’t matter to me. What matters is that literally thousands of families – maybe tens of thousands of families - especially single mums and other vulnerable people - are enduring unimaginable distress caused by this No Jab No Pay legislation. Almost without exception, the emails I’ve received are written by articulate, intelligent and informed parents. And let me assure you, contrary to the media propaganda machine, the decisions made by many of these parents, have been based on research done AFTER a child – often the first – experienced a severe and life-changing reaction. Their stories are unbelievable. All they’re asking is for the choice to make informed decisions for their own children. What right has the government to overrule them or the doctor/patient relationship? None! These are some of the worst, most heartbreaking stories you will ever hear. And I suspect that if any of my fellow parliamentarians were to read these harrowing stories, they too would be similarly impacted as I have been. In short, the childcare and FTB penalties are punishing parents for caring, for erring on the side of caution to protect their child. If that doesn’t make sense to me - none of it does. Does it make sense to you? Let me know your views I would be interested to hear them, pro or con. If I’m out of order let me know, if I’m not back me up.