NSW Labor Opposition to Introduce legislation allowing preschools to ban unvaccinated children

Opposition Leader John Robertson will move to introduce legislation in the NSW Parliament to amend the Public Health Act 2010 and give preschools and childcare centres the right to ban unvaccinated children from attending. Mr Robertson said the Opposition would consult with the early childhood sector and the public on the draft Bill. 

An important aim of the Opposition’s changes will be to encourage parents who may have simply forgotten to fully vaccinate their children to do so.

“As a grandparent of a four year old who is currently in preschool, I know how important it is for all children to be vaccinated,” Opposition Leader John Robertson said. 

“It is astounding that places like Iran and Rwanda have higher rates of childhood vaccination than the north shore and eastern suburbs of Sydney.*

“This shouldn’t be about the alternative wishes of parents who choose to ignore the advice of doctors; it has to be about the health of our children and young people.

“Parents who choose not to vaccinate aren’t just putting their own children at risk, they are putting other people’s innocent children at risk of preventable diseases as well.”

Mr Robertson also recognised Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott backs the crackdown on parents who choose not to vaccinate their children.

“I don’t share the same views as Tony Abbott on many issues, but we are in full agreement on childhood vaccination.”

Shadow Health Minister and paediatrician Dr Andrew McDonald said he was saddened to see children suffering from diseases which could have been prevented through higher vaccination rates.

“There is quite simply no reasonable argument against childhood vaccination,” he said.

http://www.childinfo.org/files/immunization_summary_2012_en.pdf