FRUIT OF THE LOONS

Anti-vaxxers pose as organic food devotees

ANTI-VACCINATION lobbyists allegedly misrepresented themselves as organic food enthusiasts to gain access to a school hall where a controversial documentary was screened. The use of State Government property to push discredited views on vaccination has infuriated Education Minister Kate Jones.

AN anti-vaccination lobby group that hired a school hall for a controversial documentary screening allegedly misrepresented the purpose of their meeting.

A Queensland Government source said the woman who hired the Miami State High School hall told the school her event was to “promote organic food and drink for a healthy lifestyle, particularly to help the aged and homeless”.

Instead, the Australian Vaccination-skeptics Network (AVN) hosted a screening of a documentary called Vaxxed, which was attended by more than 300 people.

“There was no disclosure that the hire of the school hall would be used for screening Vaxxed, nor was there reference to any other organisation including Fans of the AVN,” a spokesman from the Department of Education and Training Queensland said.

“The school principal has today met with the business owner who booked the hall toexpress the school’s concerns.”

Education Minister Kate Jones spoke directly with the Miami State High School principal yesterday, who was furious that school officials had been misled.

Ms Jones said the school required written documentation about the group’s intentions, held an interview with the woman and researched her business before agreeing to allow her use the school hall.

The Minister said school staff were shocked when they discovered the event was in fact an anti-vaxxer rally.

“This is just more lies from the anti-vaxxers,” she said.

“They lied on the (venue hire) form, they lied to the school and they lied to the community.”

The AVN refuted claims that the school had been misled.

“We have a copy of the paperwork that was sent to the school that specifically says there was a film night,” she said.

“They never asked for the name of the film.

“Our public liability policy was provided at the same time we submitted the paperwork and that public liability specifically says ‘Australian Vaccination-skeptics Network’.”

Griffith University School of Medicine Associate Professor Neil Harris said there was no doubt vaccinations were safe.

“Vaccination is a proven, well-established population health strategy,” he said.

“It’s about protecting the herd. When we have people who choose not to vaccinate, then that weakens the herd.”