The president of the Australian Medical Association in WA has hit out at a group of hundreds opposed to mandatory COVID-19 vaccines who rallied in the Perth CBD on Saturday.
Police were forced to temporarily close a number of roads shortly after midday as the rally made its way through the city but largely kept their distance.
At times, the group chanted, "my body, my choice", and, "freedom, freedom", in opposition to the requirement for people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to work in some jobs in Western Australia.
A section also yelled "proud boys" repeatedly, referring to the far-right, male-only extremist group.
The crowd booed WA Premier Mark McGowan and the media.
AMA WA president Dr Mark Duncan-Smith said there was no argument that everyone should get vaccinated.
"In all parts of society, there's going to be different opinions, and unfortunately some people are pro-disease," he said.
"Other people are more rational.
"The vaccine is safe, it's effective, it's our only way out of this pandemic."
He said people need to take up the chance to get vaccinated now while WA is free from community spread of COVID.
"We have to accept that COVID is coming," he said.
"When COVID gets here is not the time to get vaccinated. Now is the time to get vaccinated."
More than 56 per cent of Western Australians over 16 are fully vaccinated.
The group started in Forrest Place, before moving towards Elizabeth Quay.
A number of people wearing high-visibility clothing appeared to oppose a recently announced requirement for resources sector workers to have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine by the start of December.
One had the words "let our miners choose" written on the back, another read "no jab = no job = no choice".
At the time the policy was announced, Chamber of Minerals and Energy CEO Paul Everingham said workers were free to not get vaccinated.
"But with freedom comes personal responsibility, and with freedom doesn't come the right to impose your illness on other people," he said.
"I wouldn't say there is an obligation on anyone to provide a job to someone who chooses not to have a vaccination."
Many people working in a number of sectors in WA, including healthcare and aged care, are currently required to be vaccinated.
The media continued to be a target of the rally, with banners reading "mainstream misinformation" and "the media is the virus".
