Macquarie Fields MP Anoulack Chanthivong is calling on the Liberal Government to utilise the new, purpose-built South Western Sydney mass vaccination centre in Macquarie Fields to vaccinate local Year 12 students as confusion and chaos reign over the Government’s plans.

This follows the Liberal Government’s last-minute decision to scrap plans to transport students via bus to Qudos Bank Arena in Olympic Park, with students now expected to make their own way to the centre.

“Convenient access to vaccinations is vital, which is why I’m calling on the Liberal Government to urgently allow Year 12 students in south western Sydney to be vaccinated at the new, fit-for-purpose hub in Macquarie Fields.

“It defies logic to make students travel 50 kilometres or more from south western Sydney – currently a
hot-spot – when we have an excellent vaccination centre available locally.

“Easy and convenient access to vaccinations is vital to ensuring more jabs in arms and greater protection for everyone in our community,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“Communication from the Liberal Government on vaccinations for Year 12 students has been inconsistent, unclear and chaotic.

“Parents are pulling their hair out, students are facing additional stress and uncertainty, and principals are scrambling to keep up with the ever-changing messages from this Liberal Government. Quite simply, it is
a debacle.

“An easy solution would be to enable Year 12 students who live in the Campbelltown and Liverpool local government areas to be vaccinated at the new Macquarie Fields hub. This would significantly reduce travel times and help limit exposure at a time when we need to be doing whatever we can to get on top of this outbreak.

“Sadly, I expect that some of our more disadvantaged students would unlikely make the journey to Olympic Park and not get vaccinated at all.

“The Liberal Government needs to allow Year 12 students to be vaccinated at the new, purpose-built Macquarie Fields hub to make vaccinations as fair and equitable for everyone.

“I call on the Liberal Government to stop the chaos and confusion. Let local students be vaccinated locally to help protect us all.”