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Lara Dalton, Colin de Grussa among last MPs to join jabbed colleagues

Elise Van Aken & Peter LawMidwest Times
Colin de Grussa and Lara Dalton
Camera IconColin de Grussa and Lara Dalton

Two State parliamentarians based in the Mid West, who were among three confirmed to not have been vaccinated against COVID-19 last week, have finally received their first dose of the jab as the Premier revealed plans to make vaccinations for MPs mandatory.

In late July, Geraldton’s Labor MP Lara Dalton said she was booked to receive her first dose and on Monday confirmed she had received her first jab on Friday and was booked to get her second.

Other Mid West-based MPs — Member for Moore Shane Love, of the Nationals party, and Labor’s Sandra Carr, Member for the Agricultural Region — are fully vaccinated.

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Ms Dalton would not answer questions this week as to what vaccine she received and why it took her until last week to get her first dose, with the Pfizer jab available to people in her age group since mid-June.

“I will always encourage people to follow public health advice,” she said.

According to a survey by WAToday, she was the last Labor MP to not have received at least one dose of a vaccine, along with fellow Geraldton-based MP Colin de Grussa, an Upper House National for the Agricultural Region, and Legalise Cannabis Party member Sophia Moermond.

Mr de Grussa said he had received his first dose of Pfizer in recent days and was booked in for his second.

“I booked my appointment on the Vaccinate WA website in early July,” he said. “At that time, the earliest available appointment at my nearest clinic was October 10, which I booked and attended.”

Mr de Grussa said he was a supporter of vaccinations against COVID-19, but mandatory jabs should be based on “clear and transparent” health advice.

Any decision to mandate vaccination for a specific cohort should be accompanied by clear and transparent health and legal advice — and it should not be the only tool used to increase our shockingly low vaccination rates.

- Colin de Grussa

“Any decision to mandate vaccination for a specific cohort should be accompanied by clear and transparent health and legal advice — and it should not be the only tool used to increase our shockingly low vaccination rates.

“The Government needs to look at all the options to boost vaccination rates across the State, as our vaccination rate remains stubbornly low.”

On Monday, Mark McGowan revealed he had sought legal advice about adding MPs to the growing list of enforced vaccination.

The Premier said issuing a compulsory jab order to politicians raised constitutional questions, but he believed “MPs should set an example for everyone else”.

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