Thursday, 26 May 2022

COVID-19 vaccination

Mr ANGUS (Forest Hill) (17:10): (6390) I raise a matter of importance for the attention of the Minister for Health. The action I seek is for the minister to remove the vaccination mandates that apply to prison visitors. I raise this matter as I was contacted recently by a local resident who I subsequently spoke with at length last Tuesday. This constituent informed me that they were married with children and that their spouse was currently in prison. My constituent and their children had been visiting their spouse regularly since their spouse had been imprisoned. These visits were stopped during the numerous lockdowns experienced by all Victorians over the last two years. Visits recommenced in February 2021, with no vaccination requirements but with other restrictions. They had again been regularly undertaken by my constituent and their children until they were stopped again in May 2021.

Visits have recommenced; however, the government has now introduced the requirement that all prison visitors must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. My constituent and their children are for personal reasons unvaccinated. Consequently, they and their infant children are prohibited from visiting their spouse, who I note was forced to be vaccinated against their wishes whilst in prison. The last visit my constituent had with their spouse was in May 2021. Thus, one year later my constituent is now forbidden to visit their spouse or take their infant children to see their imprisoned parent. As would be expected, this exclusion is having a very significant detrimental impact on my constituent and their young children.

Until the most recent minor easing of the vaccine mandate requirements I was regularly contacted by countless other Victorians who were unable to participate in society, such as young parents who were unable to take their children to the local library or swimming pool. Thankfully the recent easing of vaccination requirements in some areas has been of partial assistance, but it will not assist this constituent in their particular circumstance. I note that my constituent would willingly undertake a PCR test or a rapid antigen test prior to attending a prison visit for themselves and their children.

Given the very high vaccination levels in Victoria, together with the fact that it is now well documented that the vaccination clearly does not prevent people getting or transmitting COVID-19, surely it is time for the government to remove the prison visitor vaccination mandate. Minister, the vaccine mandate for prison visitors needs to be removed to enable unvaccinated loved ones and friends of Victorian prisoners to visit them once again for the benefit of both the visitor and the prisoner and ultimately the Victorian community.