Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have a dilemma. Many women—mostly women—in my electorate refuse to have their children immunised. They absolutely refuse. I said to them that I am prepared to represent their views in this parliament, which I did. I said, 'Why don't you ask the senators for an inquiry into your issues? They are not my views, but ask them.' So there was a Senate inquiry into the issue. There were 550 submissions. My dilemma is this: the woman in my office the other day said, 'I refuse to have my child immunised'. I said, 'when your child was sick the other day and had a viral infection, did you go to the doctor and ask for a script for a drug to attack that viral infection?', and she said, 'well of course I did.' I said, 'what is the difference between the doctor that gives you that advice as to the importance—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 16 : 40 to 16:57

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