Government policies encourage disrespect for parental choice

The following letter is reprinted with the permission of the author who has sent it to the television programme mentioned below. It is obvious that the lack of respect shown by government officials including our own Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, towards those who have made a vaccination choice that is against government policy has spread to the media and beyond. The government is intentionally inciting fear and hatred throughout the community towards those who have made a legal choice for their children. Along with the media, they are encouraging this sort of abusive treatment of Australian families and they must be held accountable for their actions.

I was just watching Channel Ten's show The Project 6:30-7:30pm, and the hosts of the show made some derogatory comments about parents who don't immunise their kids. It was in response to the news item about the Federal government only giving tax concessions to parents who have immunised their child.

Well, the Federal Govt. are bad enough, but to be told by two bimbo tv hosts that I was a bad parent - that was it!

I have just faxed a complaint to the Melbourne offices of Channel ten (where the show is made) and I thought you might like to know what I said.

"Dear On-Air Hosts of The Project program,

I was really enjoying your show tonight, and I usually do every night, when a small segment made me very angry.

It concerns the news item about Immunisation and the changes to tax incentives by the Federal Govt. All was going well until the cameras returned to the two main hosts, Charlie Pickering and Carrie Bickmore. Carrie decided to launch into a vitriolic rant about how evil parents are who don’t immunise their children. Charlie Pickering joined in too and spent the next 20 seconds (it seemed to last forever) or so demonising these parents. My jaw dropped to the floor. I couldn’t believe how such seemingly bright and intelligent people could be so ignorant of the medical issues which surround the very complex area of Immunisation.

Firstly I would like to say to the producers of this program – Parents of non-immunised children watch your show too. Did you hear that? Can you hear people turning off your show? Did you hear me flicking to another channel? 

Intelligent well-educated people who hold professional jobs make complex decisions not to immunise their child. In fact there are many medical reasons that prohibit children from being immunised. I happen to be a parent of a vaccine-injured child. Oops does that make me evil? I did the right thing and now my child needs life long care. I don’t make a big thing about it. In fact we don’t even talk about it because we respect the privacy of our child. Our child is not a freak. My child is the beautiful baby I gave birth to nearly 11 years ago. My child is brave and achieves amazing things in life. Nevertheless, according to Carrie Bickmore, whom I don’t believe holds any medical degrees, I might be evil for not vaccinating my other two children. Well Carrie, can you blame me?

I didn’t realise The Project had turned into a medical show – I thought you were entertainment driven, and I always had a good laugh with you. Until tonight.

My suggestion is that you apologise to parents like myself on air, who perhaps don’t have the time to send in a faxed complaint, and next time, stay away from making ignorant comments about medical subjects that you have no formal education in. Every one deserves respect, and I believe you have shown none to people like myself and my child.

Thank you."

KM