FEDERAL MP Andrew Laming defied 'superspreader' calls to host a vaccine mandate rally at the weekend.
Mr Laming addressed more than 100 people at the Cleveland Library square on Sunday, calling for the release of public health evidence behind the state's vaccine mandate.
It came days after an alert was issued when a COVID-19 infected person visited a Thai restaurant in Capalaba on November 29.
Capalaba MP Don Brown had called for the rally to be cancelled, saying it risked becoming a superspreader, and it was irresponsible to have an event in the Redlands after exposure sites had been detected.
Siam Thai Restaurant and Capalaba Park shopping centre were named as contact sites.
The rally served as an informative discussion and included a representative from the Nurses' Professional Association of Queensland union and a medical expert.
Mr Laming said mandates should have a public health basis, and it did not exist for unvaccinated workers in occupations unrelated to health and aged care.
"Why should these mandates apply to a mum working from home taking bookings for a clinic?" he said.
Mr Laming said mandates should only be applied to frontline health, aged care, and disability services.
Queensland is due to hit the 80 per cent fully vaccinated mark next week - lagging behind other states and territories.
"Facing the sack before Christmas is a horrific way to raise vaccination rates and completely unnecessary," he said.
Mr Laming said he would be happy to back a law where people were not discriminated on their vaccination status.
He said it would be left to businesses to check customers vaccination passports, if they chose to.
"No ask, no tell... the state has been quite aggressive on policing the vaccine passport. But if a business doesn't ask for your vaccination certificate, don't show it," he said.
He urged residents to talk to their local MPs regarding mandates.
Mr Laming, who has been vaccinated, said that regardless of vaccination, every person could catch and spread the disease. The main benefit of vaccination was reducing disease severity.
Angela Kelly
Redland City Bulletin senior journalist covering politics, community issues and human interest stories. South African living the dream in Australia.
Redland City Bulletin senior journalist covering politics, community issues and human interest stories. South African living the dream in Australia.
