NEWS DESK
Civic leaders on air to promote the jab MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Despi O’Connor teamed up with Frankston Council mayor Kris Bolam at the studios of radio station RPP FM to encourage everyone to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “Getting vaccinated is a positive step in keeping our community protected, safe and open for business,” Cr O’Connor said. Cr Bolam said the opening of a vaccination hub in Frankston and the
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Despi O’Connor and Frankston Council mayor Kris Bolam at RPP FM with Steve Meyer. Picture: Supplied
increase in vaccines being made available, meant it was easy for people to book an appointment and get vaccinated locally. The mayors’ message is airing across the peninsula on RPP FM. To check eligibility and book a vaccination appointment call 1800 675 398, visit health.gov.au or contact your GP. Anyone with a pre-existing medical condition or disability should discuss getting the vaccination with their GP.
Mayor calls for end to lockdown
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Frankston Times
17 August 2021
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire Council has asked the Premier Daniel Andrews to exclude the peninsula from the Melbourne metropolitan lockdown. The mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said the region had no active COVID-19 cases and had experienced only one case in the past 10 months. “We asked the government to consider releasing us,” she said. “It was not a demand; we are just asking for consideration.” In a letter sent on Friday 13 August Cr O’Connor urges the state government to take a “more tailored approach” to easing restrictions on the peninsula to “reduce the negative impact on the personal, social and economic hardship faced by our community; keep our residents safe; give our businesses a much needed boost to start operating again and allow our community the freedoms offered to regional Victorians”. She says using the metropolitan Melbourne administrative boundary to control the spread of a pandemic “does not appear to be based on current health indicators as illustrated when comparing the Mornington Peninsula Shire with regions such as the City of Greater Geelong”. Geelong had reduced restrictions last week due to its classification as a region, despite having active cases. The letter urged Mr Andrews to approach restrictions in the shire in a “more sophisticated manner based on current health indicators across our local government area, not an administrative boundary that has no direct link to the spread of this pandemic”. “This will limit the unnecessary suffering caused across our community resulting from COVID-19 restrictions at times when there are no active cases,” Cr O’Connor said. “We look forward to working with you and the health department to achieve optimal vaccination rates and the best health outcomes for our community in the face of these challenges and work towards a future when these restrictions are rendered unnecessary.” Cr O’Connor said the decision to write the letter was “not an easy one”. “It took perhaps 24 hours for us to agree on the wording. It was tricky, but our community has called on us to ask and so we have.” Federal government data last week showed that more than half (50.3 per cent) of peninsula residents had received their first jab and that almost a quarter (24.2 per cent) had received both jabs. Nepean MP Chris Brayne said the peninsula was included in the lockdown “due to [it] being highly interconnected with Melbourne”. “If Frankston is in lockdown because of the potential spread, then the peninsula will be in lockdown,” he said. “However, three states of Australia plus the ACT having lockdown restrictions right now isn’t a tragic coincidence. “This is a national failure because of the disastrous vaccine rollout. We need to be offered the opportunity to be vaccinated so we can get on with living our lives.” Stephen Taylor