The Byron Shire Echo Volume 36 #15 Wednesday, September 22, 2021
www.echo.net.au
IT’S NOT FLAT IT’S HOLLOW
Councillors get behind vaccination push Paul Bibby Public buildings such as the Mullumbimby Civic Hall could become mass COVID-19 vaccination centres, under a proposal put forward by Byron Council last week. The plan was part of a broader motion passed at last week’s planning meeting, in a bid to get more locals vaccinated. As The Echo has reported, the Byron Shire has one of the lowest vaccination levels in NSW, with 31.8 per cent of Byron residents over 15 years of age being fully vaccinated, compared with 52.8 per cent for the State as a whole. ‘It’s estimated that Byron may not reach the double dose rate for up to five months,’ said Labor Councillor Paul Spooner, who moved the motion. ‘This will become particularly concerning when the rest of the state can travel again, because people who are vaccinated can still carry COVID-19 here, and our most vulnerable will be at considerable risk. ‘The NSW Premier has also hinted that we may miss out completely on the lifting of restrictions without our vaccination rate being lifted’. Cr Spooner said that lack of mass vaccination centres in rural and regional areas such as Byron had been a major impediment to getting vaccinated. The motion sought to address this, by making Council buildings such as the Cavanbah Centre and
Mullum Civic Hall available for mass vaccination, or vaccination pop-up centres. Councillors also voted to continue supporting the State Government’s vaccination campaign through social media posts, press releases, and other statements of support.
dëĈŊ şĪ Ǖ ǀĕſ It will also request that the State Government opens up pop-up vaccination clinics in the Shire. Greens Cr Sarah Ndiaye told the meeting that the lack of Pfizer doses in the Shire had also contributed to the low vaccination rate here. ‘I’ve heard of one case where a person actually offered to buy other people’s Pfizer appointments,’ she said. Earlier in the meeting, mayoral aspirant, Asren Pugh (Labor), urged Council to take a stronger stance on the issue. ‘Look, I realise it’s a contentious issue, and that there’s a sizable anti-science minority that use some pretty nasty language in this discussion – making some pretty nasty comments’, Mr Pugh said. ‘But there are a lot of people who are just unsure… For these people, we need to provide understanding and empathy.’ When it came to the vote, just one councillor – Jeanette Martin (former Green, turned independent) – voted against it.
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Byron is revolting
With erratic and conflicting health messaging, and general incompetence from state and federal governments, people took to the streets last Saturday, around the nation, to voice their opposition to ever diminishing civil liberties, mandated vaccinations and vaccine passports. Police say more than 1,700 officers were involved in the operation across the state, with around 200 posted at regional locations, including Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, the Central Coast, Wollongong and on the South Coast. In Byron Bay, police say 11 people were arrested and 28 penalty infringement notices (PINs) were issued. One person was arrested and issued with a PIN in Tweed Heads. Twenty people were arrested in Greater Sydney, and 236 PINs were issued. Photo Jeff ‘Pinned Behind Lines’ Dawson
Govt sends region back into lockdown With another confirmed COVID-19 case having flown in from Sydney, the Byron, Kempsey and Tweed LGAs will go back into lockdown from 5pm Tuesday for one week, says the NSW government. At Tuesday’s media briefing, journalists asked Health Minister Brad Hazzard (Liberal) whether he supports a hard lockdown for the region to limit cases arriving. While he avoided answering that question, local Nationals MLC Ben Franklin told The Echo he thinks a ‘moratorium’ is a ‘bridge too far’. Mr Franklin said, ‘By its nature, a moratorium implies there are no exceptions to the rule. But there need to be exceptions. If someone is fleeing domestic violence for
Vale Aunty Dulcie Nicholls ▶ p4
example, or providing care for a sick or dying relative, or providing an essential service – these are all appropriate reasons to enter our region at this time.’ He added, ‘However, I do support there being strict compliance measures enforced for those entering our region. They should be tested before they come. They should observe lockdown rules for 14 days after arriving. They should only be able to leave Sydney for a very small number of approved reasons’. The comment comes after Ballina MP, Tamara Smith (Greens), told ABC North Coast on Tuesday morning (prior to the announced lockdown) that a moratorium is needed on people coming to the region.
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She said, ‘As Sydney opens up, we are sitting ducks until we get our vaccination rates where they need to be, and we have not had the supply, so we are behind’. Minister Hazzard said on Tuesday that while there is a degree of vaccine hesitancy in the region, he admitted vaccine availability ‘has not been what it could have been’. Similar claims have been made by Ms Smith. Mr Franklin said there is, ‘no question we need more Moderna and Pfizer [vaccines] – but it’s coming, and even now there are Pfizer appointments available in the region in the next fortnight’. Q Those wanting to find the nearest vaccination clinic can visit covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au.
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