Former NSW Premier criticises Covid vaccine mandates in final speech

Pharma News: Former New South Wales Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet bid farewell to his 13-year career in parliament with a valedictory speech critiquing Covid-19 vaccine mandates as a “mistake”.

Perrottet, who recently announced his resignation from the seat of Epping to join mining giant BHP in Washington DC, asserted that strict vaccine mandates lacked consideration for personal freedoms despite their intentions.

“If the impact of vaccines on transmission was limited at best, as is mostly now accepted, the law should have left more room and respect for freedom,” he told parliament in his final speech.

“Without dwelling on every decision, I believe it’s important to point out one mistake which was made by governments here and around the world: the strict enforcement of vaccine mandates,” he said.

He acknowledged vaccines’ role in saving lives but emphasised the impact of mandates on individuals’ employment rights, declaring, “But ultimately mandates were wrong. People’s personal choices shouldn’t have cost them their jobs.”

Addressing broader governance issues, Perrottet advocated for fixed, four-year terms for federal governments to prioritise policy reform over perpetual campaigning.

His departure follows a tenure marked by his ascent to NSW’s youngest premier in 2021, succeeding Gladys Berejiklian.

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