Court to hear mandatory vaccine challenge

Sydney solicitor Tony Nikolic on Wednesday filed the suit against Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant in the NSW Supreme Court, with the matter due to be heard for the first time on Friday.

Law firm Ashley, Francina, Leonard and Associates argues the public health orders requiring “a broad class of workers” be vaccinated is illegal and unconstitutional, as are the extra powers granted to police to enforce public health orders.

“We have received thousands of inquiries from front-line workers – police, paramedics, nurses, aged care (staff), doctors, firefighters – construction workers, teachers, airline staff, miners, truck drivers, university students, mums and dads and, importantly, employers,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

“It is our view that vaccine compulsion strips citizens of their basic human rights, including their right to work, their right to bodily integrity and their right to informed consent to medical treatment without coercion.”

The suit will seek a declaration that the NSW public health orders are invalid and a ban on any further orders made by Mr Hazzard and Dr Chant.

“No-one is above the law, including ministers and public health officers.”

A response has been sought from Dr Chant and Mr Hazzard.

Mr Nikolic has advertised for plaintiffs to join the suit on the firm’s website and social media network Telegram, the platform used to organise and incite anti-lockdown protests across the country.

In a post to Telegram on Saturday, Mr Nikolic praised politicians like Craig Kelly, Reverend Fred Nile and Pauline Hanson for their opposition to mandatory vaccinations and lockdowns.

“You are born free, free to choose, freedom from arbitrary detention, freedom of bodily integrity – don’t give it away for free,” he said.

“Don’t be be bullied.”

Australian Associated Press