‘I’m no ratbag’

8/10/2021

In a video broadcast entitled Overcoming Fear, Russell Broadbent explains why he won’t be getting the COVID vaccine any time soon.

By Russell Broadbent

IT SEEMS of late that if you question the status quo around vaccines you are deemed to be part of the radical fringe of society. Australians DO question things, especially authority. Always have, always will.

You know of my questions regarding vaccines, vaccine passports and mandatory vaccinations. If you don’t, this is where I stand.

1. I’m uncomfortable with mass vaccination of the population with a vaccine that is, according to Minister Hunt, being trialled across the world. We have no knowledge of the side effects until they present themselves and of course no idea about the long-term ramifications.

The producers of the vaccines obviously share my discomfort because they are indemnified, that is no one can sue them for unforeseen outcomes.

2. I’m concerned about the vaccine passports which will split this nation in two. If passports are imposed, just wait to see the effects on families, workplaces and neighbourhoods. It might seem an obvious solution now but the division which separates loved ones and fractures society will be devastating.

Those that choose not to be vaccinated pay the price, some giving up their careers, others facing separation from family and other loved ones. It appears they are not just a handful of people and many of whom are otherwise fully vaccinated.

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This is a transcript of Russell Broadbent’s Facebook post, entitled Overcoming Fear. The video received a massive 580 likes and loves and 391 comments. Many congratulated Mr Broadbent for speaking out.

In accord with its policy on COVID "misinformation", Facebook added a link to the World Health Organisation COVID information website.

3. Mandatory vaccinations. There are a range of views on how to manage the COVID virus. While I can understand why mandatory vaccination may seem an obvious path to follow, is it making a difference hopeful? Vaccination may give protection against the more severe case of COVID but it doesn’t stop you from getting COVID or passing it on. And what about the variants to come?

Is it time to reflect? We seem to be following one path only without looking at other possible avenues of prevention and treatment. Why are we scared to look more broadly to ask the question and then to have the discussion?

I know the pandemic frightens people but that should not stop us asking any question we want to ask. In fact it should drive us to seek answers. Fear corrodes one’s health, COVID or no COVID. It’s not helpful to label those who have a different point of view as ratbags. We need to engage in honest discussion about why people are choosing not to be vaccinated, including members of the health profession and some members of the teaching profession, I’ve just learned.

Wherever the nation is headed on these issues it’s important we put our relationships before divisions that this issue is causing. This is a time, if ever there was a time, to respect our difference, be it friend, family, colleague, neighbour, work colleague or politician, and have the courage to ask the hard questions and use this situation to help us mature as a compassionate and empathetic people who choose to move beyond fear.

That’s just as I see it.

38 Comments

Ian B

8/10/2021 10:12:25 am

Russell needs to visit a few covid wards and see the devastating effects this virus has on people. I don't wish this virus upon anyone, but if Russell gets it, he may change his mind on being vaccinated

Bernie Mccomb

8/10/2021 03:27:33 pm

Main point is that vaccine drastically reduces admissions to hospital, so you can expect treatment if you need it. If admissions cause overload, triage procedure can mean no vax people taken to back of queue, out in car park. Your choice.

Trevor H

8/10/2021 10:35:12 am

I am disappointed that someone in a position of leadership should choose not to protect himself and society.
I have just been at a funeral (on zoom) for a good friend who suffered from the effects of polio his whole life. I remember being vaccinated (compulsory at school in the 1950s UK) against this and escaped the dreadful effects. Thank you Jonas Salk!

Frank Flynn

8/10/2021 10:40:28 am

You won’t be getting my vote. Too many horror stories regarding COVID. Have you witnessed first hand the trauma the medical profession are going through? Sheesh!

Jessica Harrison

8/10/2021 10:43:08 am

In response to Russell's irresponsible statement, the Wonthaggi Branch of the Australian Unemployed Workers union publishes the following statement:
The Wonthaggi Branch of the Australian Unemployed Workers Union is calling for Monash Federal MP Russell Broadbent to resign immediately.
“Russell Broadbent stated that he is not vaccinated and raised concerns about immunisation of Australians against COVID and vaccine mandates or passports. said Jessica.
“Russell Broadbent has undermined both Federal and Victorian vaccination policy and caused confusion by publishing his views in a rambling video posted on Facebook.” said Jessica Harrison, Wonthaggi Branch co-convenor.
“Russell Broadbent is out of touch. Health workers and hospitals are under pressure and COVID cases are rising in his electorate. Unemployed people are surviving on half a shoe string. Our Federal representative should have kept his musings to himself.”
“Current Victorian regulations mean that if a federal politician is not vaccinated, they could be restricted in accessing their electorate offices for secure Parliamentary videoconferencing. Russell Broadbent may have limits on his electoral duties if he continues his stand. said Jessica.
“Russell Broadbent’s statement shows he does not represent his electorate” said Mark Lanyon, Foster representative of the AUWU. “His information about vaccination is misleading and not in the interests of the community.
“Our union represents unwaged and underemployed workers. In 2021 we are trying to make ends meet with no COVID supplement or help. The Federal government should reclaim the billions of overpaid JobKeeper payments to businesses, and increase all welfare payments to $80aday immediately.

Aleta Groves

8/10/2021 11:17:12 am

So Irresponsible! You don't deserve your position in parliament as you don't represent the majority of your constituents!

Nina Wills

8/10/2021 11:18:14 am

Russell Brosdbend
I nina Wills am
Very disappointed in your attitude to the covid vaccine and advertising your views. You are not being a responsible member of parliament Jin not trusting our government and healthcare experts.
Vaccines have been around for years and if you have travelled you would be aware of that.
You sound like all the conspiracy theorists we have had on line; and find it disrespectful that you as a government leader would be boasting your beliefs to support those COVID IDIOTS as they call them overseas. You should not have your position but you probably don’t care as you will retire with a really good pension.
You should go visit a hospital with covid patients on machines.
Our government with the rest of the world ordered vaccines to keep us safe - even though they were slow getting going - and you are preaching your views and you could not care a hoot about keeping us safe. Totally with you Russel Broadbent.
You certainly will never get my vote putting vulnerable people at risk- irresponsible - selfish man

Nina Wills

Peter Bogg

8/10/2021 11:51:04 am

RusselI, I think your problem is that you used Hunt for your medical advice. My daughter is a doctor and the trouble and stress people like you (unvaccinated) give her is unforgivable. I think you should walk through a COVID ward and then make up your mind about the risk and consequences of not being vaccinated.

Living in a society means that you have to give up some of your 'individual' rights. For example, you have a passport to drive (driver's licence) which allows you to legally drive on the roads. Same with a vaccine passport. With it you will be allowed to do certain things that an unvaccinated person will not allowed to do.

As far as seeing loved ones and dividing society etc, Only idiots would visit loved ones while NOT vaccinated. How would you feel, Russell, if, not being vaccinated, you passed on the virus to a loved one who may well be severely effected. You should be separated from them for their safety.

If you had been around 50 years ago when we were vaccinated as kids, you would have been ridiculed as delusional. I recall my mother couldn't wait for the Sabin Oral vaccine (for polio) to become available. There were kids in nearly every class that suffered from polio and the prospect of spending a life in a iron lung was indeed terrifying. As these people are getting older, they are again having trouble with problems associated with getting polio in their youth.

I think you should reconsider your message and show responsible leadership on a very serious issue.

BARBARA MOJE

8/10/2021 11:55:38 am

Russell, as everybody is entitled to his views. However, I am not impressed by his display of shallow thinking, and irresponsibility of him as a politician to keep his opinions low profile. Here are a few questions to Russell:
What other option to protect the population do we have in a mass pandemic than mass vaccination ?
When will the underfunding of the medical sector by his government be redressed, so we don't have to for example bring in the army to drive the ambulances carrying the victims of the anticipated mass outbreaks, and give our medical staff a rest not to mention pay rise etc?
Will Russell give up his hospital bed and ventilator to another victim to the pandemic, who without fault of their own has not been able to get vaccinated (amidst the chaos and mixed messages that have been aired by his government)?
I would be interested the know the answers, but I can already guess what they will be.

CHRISTINE GRAYDEN

8/10/2021 01:34:29 pm

How good to see our local Federal member engaging with this end of the electorate via the Bass Coast Post. I hope Russell chooses this platform to communicate with us occasionally on other issues. Of course in a crisis situation such as a virus pandemic the only stab at a solution we have at present is mass vaccination. But this situation is extremely complex and we will be foolish if we think being double vaccinated is going to get us out of this. I was reading a most interesting health blog from a US epidemiologist this morning that was analysing the figures in the US, where there has been a fair bit of vaccine hesitancy among both black and white populations – not just rabid anti-vaxxers – showing that fully vaccinated people's less defensive behaviour in public means that they are actually spreading Delta more than the unvaccinated population. That is certainly my main concern with Bass Coast being designated as a double vaccinated opening-up LGA. Even now there are plenty of people in the supermarket who are not wearing masks. People think just because they are double vaccinated they are invincible and can't possibly infect anyone else. It's that ignorance that really bothers me, and which I find far more selfish than people not being vaccinated at all for what may be in their situation quite valid reasons. But of course people have all sorts of reasons for vaccine hesitancy that don't have anything to do with them being 'ratbag's'. Just as people have all sorts of reasons for not wearing masks. The real issue as I see it is our planet is now so polluted that human and many other species' immune systems are really under constant stress, so of course a new virulent virus is going to cause terrible chaos around the planet. Patching over the real problems by throwing billions of dollars at hospitals, vaccines and pharmaceuticals is a drop in the bucket compared with the trillions of dollars we need to commit to clean up all the toxins covering our planet. In fact mitigating against climate change and vaccinating the world against any new virus is simple compared with cleaning up all the toxins. And incidentally, it is sobering reading, looking at the chemical hazard safety regulations for storing various of the excipients in many pharmaceuticals, including in vaccinations! It remains to be seen whether compulsory double vaccination and passports will actually enable us to open up our economy again for any length of time. More than likely Covid will simply develop a mechanism to get around the mRNA vaccines, and off we will go again. Meanwhile, I sincerely hope that Russell's prediction that the current approach will tear our communities apart, does not come to pass.

Sunny

8/10/2021 03:10:31 pm

I applaud Russell for speaking out, why everyone is saying he is against vaccines is just plain ignorant, he cleary states it is only this one he has questions about. If we never question anything then I hate to see where we are heading. This is an experimental drug, the manufacturers do not have any responsibility for the thousands of recorded cases of deaths and adverse reactions from this drug world wide. People need to wake up and look beyond the main stream media who buy the way gets millions in funding from big pharma and does not gives us the real truth. People are afraid to speak against this machine of lies. The so called virus has never, I repeat NEVER been isolated and proven to even exist. Ask Greg Hunt for proof if you do not believe me. Ask the FDA in USA too while you are at it. This drug is doing more damage than good, with a 99% recovering rate from this "virus" we did not even need this drug. Yes I am sad for those who die but there are many respritory diseases that people die from every year. Look at the stats, NO flu in the last year, why is that? It is not the masking or protocols put in place because we would not have covid if that all worked, they are not testing for flu!!
Thank you Russell for being brave and speaking out with your concerns, there are many like myself who have never voted for you before but will certainly do now, we all want our freedom back and our right to put what we think is safe in our bodies.

Peter Lynch

24/12/2021 07:17:16 pm

Sunny, you’re citing a number of controversial opinions as facts. Would you be so kind as to provide the conspiracy theory FB and google sites that you did your cut and paste from.
Thanks in anticipation for your cooperation.

natasha williams

8/10/2021 03:12:21 pm

Russell , I fully agree with you .It is refreshing to see someone like you thinking things through and seeking information , instead following a heard of bleating sheep. We have by law the right not to get vaccinated for whatever reason. Also there are over 200 policemen refusing to get a jab. Thank you for your article and the decision to speak up.

Christine Grayden

8/10/2021 06:48:33 pm

Would people who are abusing other people on this comment thread kindly go elsewhere? Bass Coast post is a safe space and I believe the editor has every right to take down your post if you are abusing someone personally. If you wish to counter an argument by all means do so but there is no justification for name calling or otherwise trying to shut someone down regardless of how emotive the topic is for you . That sort of behaviour sounds like bullying to me. Please play nice as we are already quite anxious enough at the moment!

Lou Pecora

8/10/2021 09:51:20 pm

How refreshing and courageous for a politician and members of the community to express an alternative view against the main herd mentality. Right or wrong, the freedom to express ones views is now becoming another casualty of this infectious disease.

Pete Granger

8/10/2021 11:58:52 pm

Russell Broadbent is in very dubious political company on this issue. Namely, Craig Kelly and Pauline Hansen. This alone should be sufficient for him to think twice.
MD Alan Joyce has advised vaccination laggards at Qantas they ‘should accept that aviation was not the industry for them’. Implicit in this blunt warning is that vaccination is not only a personal choice. It is also a collective responsibility - as many on this forum have detailed. A collective responsibility already mitigated by 6.5 billion safely vaccinated individuals (guinea pigs, if you like). Who have already assumed most if not all that risk. Retrospectively, their greatest concern being a benign diminishing of effectiveness, as opposed to the malignant fate imaginatively assumed by anti-vaxers. Who increase the Covid risk for the majority by their thoughtless absolutism for individualism and freedom. Undoubtedly, there will be some amongst the estimated 80-90% vaccinated in Australia who resent the fact their vaccination status is underwriting the semi-protected Covid status of refuseniks. Notwithstanding this, it is every individual’s choice to be or not to be vaccinated. Similarly, it is the community’s right to refuse publicly-funded treatment of the unvaccinated, and to protect themselves from the unprotected. That is, both publicly and in the workplace. Russell might do well to reflect on the words of Bob Dylan...’A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom’.

Dan Brown

9/10/2021 06:01:03 am

Off course there is no Virus.We also know that the World is flat and Elvis is still alive.

Frank W Schooneveldt

9/10/2021 11:38:53 am

Just a few comments.
Firstly Russell Broadbent should resign immediately because he is misleading the people in the electorate of Monash.
Secondly the vaccines work. This has been proven around the globe.
Anybody that chooses not to get vaccinated is putting themselves at greater risk of catching the virus and will put our medical facilities at breaking point in trying to heal them.
And thirdly we need to introduce a Universal Income of around $750.00 per week to stop poverty in our country. We would pay for a Universal Income by a redistribution of wealth from the rich to the middle classes.
Cheers

Pauline Taylor

6/11/2021 02:56:02 pm

I so agree with what you say. I have been told by a reliable source that the majority of people in hospitals & in IC are ones that haven't had the vaccine - it's too late to have the vaccination once you have contracted the virus.

John Coldebella

9/10/2021 01:22:40 pm

I'd like to approach this seriously divisive issue from different angle. In the last year, I have become friends with members of two different households whose views on the vaccination are in direct opposition to mine. We have discussed the issue and the reasons for the conclusions we have arrived at. Neither party has sought to convert the other. Then we have resumed our focus on the common values and interests that attracted us to one another on our first meeting. As a result, we have enjoyed in what has been an otherwise difficult year a regular exchange of plants, fruit, vegetables, cuisine, chooks, advice and beautiful and clever works of art produced with paint brushes and sewing machines. My life has been greatly enriched by these new friendships that are characterised by co-operative community in which laughter is a regular feature. My feedback from these people suggests that the feel the same way in relation to me. This spiel may sound vain, smug or even smart-arse, but there's a lot to be said for holding the middle ground. For me, the two words that stood out in Russell Broadbent's release are compassionate and empathetic. While I disagree with his conclusions and lean to the idea that he has undermined the message of both the State and Federal governments based on health advice, and disagree with his vote on same sex marriage in the face of his electorate's support, I have come to respect him as a straight shooter. He also voted against and has spoken out against his own party's stance on asylum seekers and their subsequent treatment. I repeat, I do not agree with his views in the current debate and have concerns about possibly negative effects of his going public with them but I can find no hypocracy in this man.

I can only imagine the distress and frustration of overworked and fatigued health workers in these times, and the distress of their family members and friends seeing their loved ones suffer. I can only imagine the distress and disturbance that comes with the belif that all of this is a fabricated plan to control and manipulate the population for sinister motives. Both of these states of body, mind and emotion are a reality in our midst at the moment. I have no solution other than to focus on what we have in common and to build on that. I wish everyone well.

Neil Rankine

9/10/2021 09:38:32 pm

I find it interesting that every contributor has identified themselves, except Sunny.

Catherine Watson, Editor

10/10/2021 07:18:11 am

Neil, you are right to point this out. In fact the Post policy requires full names for comments. It helps to keep the discussion civil!

Catherine Watson, Editor

10/10/2021 07:15:15 am

Thank you all for your comments. This is obviously a subject that people feel deeply about. On the basis that most people said what they wanted to say in their first comments, and the rest is mostly bickering, I’ve removed subsequent posts.

Stephen Paul

10/10/2021 07:51:41 am

While not necessarily a supporter of Mr Broadbent, I always considered him a reasonable person. Clearly my superficial assessment of him is wrong. The man is not a “ratbag”, a term he has obviously chosen to get a colloquial sense that he is a real “Aussie”, the reality is that the man is a fool. What we have seen with Covid is that it has moved from a virus that disproportionately attacked the aged and frail, to a virus that attacks the young. This is fundamental survival of the fittest science. As we protected the aged and frail against this virus, the virus adapted and moved to infect those in our society that weren’t protected, the so called younger, fitter and healthier cohorts of our society. Taken on past experience it can be assumed that as more of the adult population become vaccinated against the virus, the virus will adapt and start moving against those who are not, or cannot, be vaccinated. I have no real concern about the anti-vaxxers, this will probably lead to humanity’s gene pool being smarter, but I do have the concern that these people will catch and spread the virus to those real immuno compromised people who genuinely cannot be vaccinated, as well as to children under twelve, toddlers and babies.
In a democracy we all have the right to be idiots, but we do not have the right for our idiocy to affect others. Mr Broadbent should stop pandering to the ravings of a noisy minority and start using his position of authority to protect those who cannot protect themselves. He should stop being selfish and self-indulgent and begin to show leadership by getting vaccinated and encouraging all others to do so.

Pamela Jacka

10/10/2021 09:56:09 am

As everyone knows getting vaccinated is not mandatory. I ummed and ahhed about it myself for quite a while then decided that I'd like to do some train travel in the future.
If we are so worried about ourselves, get vaccinated. It doesn't matter what others do, if you take care of yourself. Even those who are vaccinated can get & transmit the virus but the effects are generally not serious. Russell has history of going against the flow, so I reckon he is probably a nutter or a stirrer.
Get vaccinated if the non-vaccinated worry you and let them suffer what fate awaits them .. or not!

Brian Conroy

10/10/2021 11:03:24 am

I’m not sure what Russell Broadbent hoped to achieve by his video and statements about the Covid vaccine. But what he did do, was display an appalling lack of leadership, and add to the confusion and hesitancy that already exists in our community.
As a member of the Federal Government, I would have thought his first duty during a raging pandemic was to support the scientists and medical community who are working desperately to rid us of this horrible disease.
But instead, he chose to be a maverick and ‘pour fuel on the fire’. He decided to pander to the doubters, sceptics and anti vaxxers, and deliberately ignore the common good and the benefits flowing from the vaccine rollout.
Shame on you Russell Broadbent!

Nola Smith

11/10/2021 08:22:17 am

As a person of similar age to Russell, I have some advice... Russell it's time to retire.

Peter Bogg

11/10/2021 12:29:59 pm

The following video shows how dangerous Russell's attitude to vaccination is.

Susan Cartland (partner of Waleed Aly) has posted this video of her brother-in -aw who is a medico at the Austin hospital.

He is desperately worried by what, and who, he is seeing at his hospital. https://t.co/QQQeqlf5VV

It was made 2 weeks ago but now there are 133 people in ICU.

The Bass Coast has luckily avoided the virus so far, but is only a matter of time before it arrives. It is important that people get vaccinated as soon as possible because it takes time between first and second jabs and then a further 2 weeks to get maximum protection.

Nicholas Low

11/10/2021 04:33:37 pm

Russell Broadbent writes, 'Fear corrodes one’s health, COVID or no COVID.' Fear of vaccines endangers everyone's health. The current range of vaccines available in Australia have been exhaustively tested, trialled and found to be overwhelmingly safe. It is completely incorrect to say they are 'being trialled'. The 'trials' are long since over and done. So our MP is propagating misinformation.

Christine grayden

11/10/2021 05:10:33 pm

It's interesting to me to see how many people think once a drug is released and in use that the trials are over and it's all good to go without worrying any further about adverse effects. The typical process of trials is cells in Petri dishes, specially bred Rodents, primates or other animals then selected cohorts of humans, approval, then final public release, where data continues to be kept to monitor any long-term effect. Well that's how the process needs to go. I know of a drug developed 50 years ago and very widely used for decades and even now. However, despite controversy and pleas from many medical people over decades there is not one long-term study done of this class of drugs which have and continue to cause huge harm to victims. I'm not saying that is the case with these vaccines but I am just saying all monitoring of drugs need to continue on an ongoing basis and results reported on transparently . We can but hope that the manufacturers of these vaccines are collecting data ongoing, including patient-reported data which is often more telling than the official data. We also need independent data gathering side by side with that gathered and handed on to pharmaceutical companies. After all governments around the world are paying these companies massive amounts of money for supplies and it should not be left to taxpayers to fund ongoing monitoring which is always needed to gauge ongoing effects. That is the only way any manufactured product can be improved upon. I would be very interested if anyone on this thread can direct me to the readily available detailed covid vaccination adverse effects data gathered so far in Australia. We all need access to this data to assess the risks of ongoing booster shots which will be needed as different strains of the virus continue to emerge.

Peter Bogg

11/10/2021 07:32:21 pm

Christine, the TGA monitors adverse outcomes (you may have to copy the link and paste it into the search field in hour browser):

https://www.tga.gov.au/periodic/covid-19-vaccine-weekly-safety-report-02-09-2021

Shane

17/10/2021 11:35:01 am

Interesting range of views here!

David Butcher

17/10/2021 03:29:57 pm

Whether Russell Broadbent likes it or not, more than 95% of the Bass Coast population (16+) have been vaccinated, and the so-called vaccine passport will provide soon this majority of citizens with freedoms that those who choose not to be vaccinated will not share. In Russell's case, he will not be permitted to attend major events or meet with groups of people, he will not be able to officiate at Australian citizenship ceremonies - he will be able to effectively represent his constituency.
As such, he can no longer perform his duties as our local representative and should immediately resign.

Frank Flynn

6/11/2021 03:55:51 pm

Agree 110%👍

dan hopkins

21/10/2021 08:57:37 pm

I was concerned about taking the vaccine Russell, but when I looked at what was happening I couldn't bear the thought of someone else in family or community dying because of my reluctance. I did it for them, not just for me. JFK once said " dont ask what your country can do for you, Ask what you can do for your country". It applies here I think.
Vaccine does not guarantee no transmission of the virus, but gives a much lower transmission rate. I dont expect you to reply as you have never replied to anything I have raised with you in the past. I actually started to think you were a robot mate.

Peter Lynch

17/12/2021 09:34:38 pm

You’re right Russel, youre not a ratbag. A ratbag implies a little bit naughty with some comic redeeming aspects. You’re preaching this rubbish on your own FB page and its good to see you branching out a bit so any rational, reasonable adult of voting age can now make a more informed decision come election time.
It’s one thing to be seduced by a rowdy minority of red neck religous zealots of dubious cults, but its time for you to realise that the other 90% in your electorate who made an informed and rational decision to be vaccinated deserve proper and responsible federal parliament representation. Time to fade away to whatever pasture LNP retirees graze in and let a new member represent this electorate.
A huge difference occurred at the state level when voters in Bass Coast finally spoke, its to be hoped that your opinion piece here has the same galvanising effect.

Helen

17/12/2021 09:57:15 pm

How many of the 90% actually chose to be a part of this experiment without coercian?, I have spoken to many who said they only had it because of work, travel or going out to pubs etc. otherwise they would not have had it at all. So your statement about who will vote for who may not be relevant.

Peter Lynch

24/12/2021 07:19:07 pm

Helen, I presume your question is rhetorical, and your research is anecdotal?

‘I’m no ratbag’

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