The state MP for Mildura has slammed her federal counterpart for an "irresponsible" petition against Victoria's latest vaccination policy.
Independent state MP Ali Cupper said the Nationals MP for Mallee, Anne Webster, was pandering to misinformed people by criticising the new rule as a "breach of civil liberties".
Dr Webster is calling for signatures against a rule requiring all essential workers in Victoria to have at least one dose of a COVID vaccine by October 15.
She said the vast majority had already sought vaccination and the new policy was "heavy-handed" and coercive.
"There are some people who for whatever reason don't want to have a vaccine," Dr Webster said.
"It's certainly not something that I support — other than the fact that people are making a choice.
"When you take that choice away, that's where we have a problem.
'Unhelpful' and 'irresponsible'
Ms Cupper said Dr Webster's petition was "unhelpful" and "irresponsible" and that misinformation was the main cause of vaccine hesitancy in the community.
The latest data from the Federal Department of Health shows 83.7 per cent of people over the age of 15 in the Mildura LGA have received at least one dose of a vaccine, up six per cent on the previous week.
Ms Cupper said Dr Webster's petition was "pandering to a minority" of vocal and misinformed people in Sunraysia who were often prominent on social media.
"For someone like Anne, who has a PhD [in sociology] — she understands the value of getting good information that is peer-reviewed, reliable, accurate, and putting that out in the community, that is responsible leadership," she said.
"I think instead what [Dr Webster] is doing is giving legitimacy and a platform to people who are simply misinformed.
"She is giving them that legitimacy to the detriment of important public health measures that are in all of our interests."
'This isn't about the vaccine'
Dr Webster said she "did not support anti-vaccine sentiment in any shape or form".
But she did acknowledge that people who were anti-vaccine would likely support her petition.
"This isn't about the vaccine — clearly I am supportive of the vaccine," she said.
"I'm criticising a policy that takes away people's ability to choose, that's all.
"We need to be speaking up for the personal responsibilities individuals should be able to carry as part of the community in Victoria.
"Our civil liberties should not be infringed upon by this kind of heavy-handedness, especially given that over 80 per cent have already stepped up to get the vaccine.
