Is anyone keeping the bastards honest anymore?

[Guest guest]

Is anyone keeping the bastards honest anymore?

Similar

versions of the following story have been reported by the sycophantic,

unquestioning Australian media over the last 2 days. Please read the

report and then, read my comments following. This is very important

information so any help you can give in publicising it would really be

appreciated!Immunisation History Should Be Checked (January 17, 2010)

Parents are urged to check their child’s immunisation history online

ahead of the new school year, says Minister for Human Services Chris

Bowen.Medicare Australia Online Services allows parents to download their

child’s immunisation history from the Australian Childhood Immunisation

Register.“It’s important to get your child’s immunisation history statement

now, as many primary schools and some preschools require proof of

immunisation prior to enrolment,” Mr Bowen said in a statement on

Sunday.Parents also need to ensure their child is up to date with

immunisation for the Child Care Benefit and the Maternity Immunisation

Allowance family assistance payments.More than 380,000 immunisation statements have been viewed by parents using Medicare Australia Online Services.*********************************************Government ministers, just like all other public servants, have an

obligation to tell the truth when they are speaking in their official

role. This article, which states it is from Minister Bowen,

Minister for Human Services, is completely wrong (and that is putting

it nicely.)The AVN was involved in drafting the legislation which preserved the

right for all parents to receive their financial entitlements whether

they vaccinate or not. Parents do NOT need to ‘ensure their child is up

to date with immunisation’. If they want to get the Child Care Benefit

and the Maternity Immunisation Allowance, all they need to do is

register as a Conscientious Objector.As for the other part of the article, the one that states, “It’s

important to get your child’s immunisation history statement now, as

many primary schools and some preschools require proof of immunisation

prior to enrolment,”, this is also completely wrong. Firstly, rules

governing what information is required prior to entry into school or

preschool is under State – not Federal jurisdiction. And every single

State in Australia states (with different words – but with the same

meaning) that it is illegal for a school to discriminate against a

child as a result of their vaccination status.Every Australian State has requirements for parents to produce a certificate of vaccination status,

showing what vaccines if any their child has received. But whether they

are fully vaccinated, completely unvaccinated or somewhere in between,

they cannot be denied a place in school, preschool, childcare, daycare

or playgroup. It is illegal. In every State. And Minister Bowen should

have known this. Just as he should have known that you do NOT need to

vaccinate to receive any government financial entitlements.Today, I called and spoke with Bowen’s Media Liaison Officer –

a woman who seemed to epitomise what it means to be a bureaucrat.When I informed her of what I was calling about, she asked me what

the problem was with the wording of Mr Bowen’s statement. I told her

that vaccination was not compulsory for schooling. She then tried to

tell me that I had interpreted the words incorrectly. That when it says

that, “many primary schools and some preschools require proof of

immunisation prior to enrolment”, that wasn’t intended to convey that

it was actually a requirement. Hmmmm. I know that I’m American, but I

think that my command of English is good enough to know that required

means ‘you have to’.I asked her how she interpreted this phrase and she refused to answer me.I then told her that the information about the Childcare Payments

was also incorrect and she insisted that it was right because it had

been provided to them by Medicare.Well, excuse me, but both Medicare and Centrelink have a long and

checkered history of omitting the fact that you can still get your

government payments even if you do not vaccinate and we have the

Ombudsman complaints to prove it. In fact, we have letters from the

Commonwealth Ombudsman dating back to 1998 saying basically,

“[Medicare] [Centrelink] (fill in appropriate name) are very sorry that

they gave Australian parents the incorrect information about their

rights when it comes to vaccination. They promise not to do this again.The Media Liaison stated that she would contact Medicare to clarify

this issue (I gave her the name of the legislation and the year it was

passed) but she could not promise when she would do this or that she

would get back to me when she has an answer.There you go! That’s a responsive government official for you!Of course, we are currently filing yet another complaint with the

Commonwealth Ombudsman (against Medicare for continuing to provide this

incorrect information) and also with the Special Minister of State

regarding the incorrect information given out by the Minister.But why is it that the government can continue to issue incorrect

statements? Why is it that our tax dollars continue to be used to

produce information that is just plain wrong. And where are the

investigative journalists who will actually ask the right questions

when statements like this are made rather than kow-towing to the

government and the medical community on any drug or vaccine related

issues?Lastly, is this statement related to the up-coming legislation being

debated in Federal Parliament this February which seeks to quarantine

and withhold Family Allowance payments from parents who choose not to

vaccinate their children, calling that neglectful parenting?If you are also concerned about this misinformation, please write to Minister Bowen and let him know how you feel.His details are below and if you can send a copy of your letter to me at meryl@..., that would be very much appreciated.Electorate Office

115 The Crescent

Fairfield NSW 2165

AustraliaOffice hours: 9am-4:30pmPO Box 802

Fairfield NSW 1860

AustraliaTelephone: 02 9726 4100Facsimile: 02 9724 6115Email: chris.bowen.mp@...Parliament House

M1/24

Canberra ACT 2600

AustraliaTelephone: (02) 6277 7200Facsimile: (02) 6273 4406

Meryl Dorey,National PresidentThe Australian Vaccination Network, Inc.Investigate before you vaccinateEditor,Living Wisdom MagazineFamily, Health, EnvironmentPO Box 177BANGALOW NSW 2479AUSTRALIAhttp://www.avn.org.auhttp://www.living-wisdom.comPhone: 02 6687 1699 - FAX 02 6687 2032skype: ivmmagThe AVN is a Charity Authority Holder (CFN11694).We rely on the help and support of our members and subscribers to continue offering our services freely and without prejudice.Please consider helping us by subscribing to Living Wisdom and joining as an AVN member. Go to http://www.avn.org.au to subscribeWe also sell books and information packs. Go to http://avn.org.au/catalog/ for more details.