‘Port Hedland vs the Premier’: COVID vaccine controversy sparks ‘great debate’ event in Perth

An event dubbed The Great Debate: Port Hedland vs the Premier will take place in Perth later this month, marking the latest chapter in the long-running Port Hedland COVID vaccine controversy. The issue gained national attention after Premier Roger Cook told the Port Hedland council to “stick to its knitting” after it carried a motion calling for the immediate suspension of COVID vaccines due to alleged DNA contamination in October. Since then, the allegations have been amplified by anti-vaccine advocates prompting the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration to release a statement debunking the claims. Taking place at Riverside Theatre at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on November 29, the event will host a number of speakers including One Nation Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts and independent Victorian MP Russell Broadbent. The poster states the event is “in response to WA Premier Roger Cook’s attack on the Port Hedland council motion”. “Exposing the misinformation and disinformation regarding the COVID-19 vaccine DNA contamination issue,” it continues. Ian Brighthope, a speaker at the event, has written to Mr Cook and Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson inviting them to attend. The letter states that the event will “debate the critical issues arising from the findings” presented by Didier Raoult, Kevin McKernan and David Speicher. The TGA questioned these findings in a statement released last month, labelling the claims as “misinformation”. A spokesperson for Mr Cook said the Premier stood by his previous comments and confirmed that he and the Health Minister would not be attending the event. “Australia’s most distinguished politicians, doctors, researchers and legal minds come together to discuss the mis-&-dis-information surrounding the disturbing discovery of frightening and illegal levels of DNA contamination in Australia’s mRNA COVID-19 injections,” the event description states. “Please come and hear about the incredible, yet frightening scientific research and discoveries being validated and verified by many of the world’s leading biomolecular virologists, geneticists, immunologists and biochemists . . .” Port Hedland mayor Peter Carter said the event and the people attending did not represent Port Hedland. “I think it’s disgusting, I think it’s totally inappropriate,” he said. “They should call it (councillor) Adrian McRae versus the premier, not Port Hedland vs the premier, because this doesn’t represent the whole community of Port Hedland, this is McRae’s crazy personal vendetta.” The event has also been promoted by One Nation WA and is sponsored by GBTK, a mechanical and construction company owned by Port Hedland councillor Adrian McRae, who authored the controversial vaccine motion. Tickets range in price from $29.95 to $150.