By Dominique Tassell
A letter received by Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) has caused quite a stir, with a representative from the recent ‘Together We Stand’ rally in WIRAC making 21 demands of SDRC all relating to the Covid-19 virus, corresponding vaccines, mask effectiveness, and other similar matters.
The letter was signed by Stephen Collins, who was the MC at the rally in WIRAC.
A source inside SDRC said the letter has “very big legal implications for the organisation” and individual councillors.
All councillors were named individually in the document.
The letter states that SDRC has 28 days from the letter being delivered to provide Mr Collins and “all residents of the Southern Downs Regional Council area” with their “personal indemnity insurance policy”.
It also states that SDRC and Queensland Health must provide conscientious objection exemptions to residents.
The letter states that if SDRC does not deliver these things, they:
• Will be liable for “breach of duty of care obligation at common law”; and/or
• Accept “full personal financial legal and criminal liability for the consequences of their actions, should any harm or death come to myself or any resident of the Southern Downs Regional Council area, that can be diagnosed by competent medical agencies back to such action”; and/or
• Will be guilty of “breach of international laws on slavery” and “shall offer no defence to any charges being laid against you under international law”.
A source inside SDRC said they “have to be serious in government” as any money wasted on endeavours such as this would come from the ratepayers.
Our source says they feel SDRC was “very considerate of the group” who organised the rally at WIRAC.
They say “it was hoped and it was expressed that they wouldn’t ask anything we couldn’t deliver”.
“We were hoping for a few suggestions, a few stories and examples that might have been emotional but factual for us to pass on.”
Instead, they say, SDRC received a legal document that’s five pages long.
“It broke all that trust.”
They said the two groups were building that relationship and had some trust.
“All of a sudden he’s threatening to financially ‘bust my arse’ if I don’t produce all these things.”
Our source says they don’t believe everyone associated with the rally is aware of the contents of the letter.
They said that when they asked those gathered outside Stanthorpe chambers about it, they didn’t know the contents of that letter.
Our source says the feeling in SDRC was that maybe all the “good people” behind the meeting were being overshadowed by a bad few.
They say SDRC wanted to show empathy, and “despite the leadership taking a terrible legal line we hope we did that”.
“Because the people have lost their jobs or are scared wouldn’t want to sue Council,” they say.
They believe the leaders behind the rally have let down the group.
Council’s lawyers will now be working on their response to the letter over Christmas, spending an unknown amount of ratepayers money.
SDRC Mayor, Vic Pennisi, sent a second letter to Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, on 15 December in which he referenced the meeting.
He stated in his letter that “small businesses are the engine room of our communities and several have already indicated they will need to close their business” due to the mandate.
Another key concern was the impact of the mandate on showgrounds, as he stated in his letter that the Agricultural Show Society had indicated to him that new requirements may mean shows don’t go ahead due to a lack of resources.
Mayor Pennisi stated to this newspaper that he believed some events, such as agricultural shows, were essential events in our community in ways
He said these events bring communities together, and “growers may only see their neighbours once a year” and shows are a “really important social event for communities”.
He has expressed this to the Premier’s office.
Mayor Pennisi wrote in his letter that “while I am acutely aware of the need to protect our community from Covid-19, I believe this also needs to be balanced against community, social and economic benefits”.
