Local Councils in South Australia Fuel Vaccine Scepticism, Sparking Concerns Among Medical Experts
A wave of vaccine scepticism is sweeping through several local councils in South Australia’s Limestone Coast region, raising alarms among medical professionals who warn that such actions endanger public health. Since the beginning of 2025, three councils – the District Council of Grant, the District Council of Robe, and the Naracoorte-Lucindale Council – have passed motions promoting doubts about vaccine safety. Adding to the concern, the umbrella organization representing all regional councils, the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA), has also endorsed a similar motion. These actions come despite the rigorous testing and approval processes that all vaccines undergo in Australia, a system recognized globally for its stringent standards.
The motions passed by the LCLGA, Robe, and Naracoorte-Lucindale councils call upon their staff to formally request assurances from state and federal health ministers regarding the safety of current and future vaccines. These motions specifically demand testing to guarantee the absence of contaminants. Medical experts like Professor Paul Griffin, an infectious disease physician and clinical microbiologist at the University of Queensland with extensive experience in vaccine development, argue that these motions implicitly suggest existing vaccines haven’t undergone adequate scrutiny. Professor Griffin emphasizes that Australia boasts one of the world’s most rigorous regulatory environments for vaccines, ensuring thorough testing for safety and efficacy before approval and ongoing monitoring to maintain these standards.
This trend of local governments questioning vaccine safety began in late 2024 with the Port Hedland council in Western Australia. The catalyst for these motions appears to be a debunked claim about mRNA COVID-19 vaccines containing excessive DNA. While a Canadian study seemingly supported earlier findings by US molecular biologist Dr. Philip Buckhaultz, these findings have been thoroughly debunked by fact-checking organizations. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s regulatory body for therapeutic goods, has addressed the misinformation circulating in media and online platforms, emphasizing that the studies lack the scientific rigour expected in pharmaceutical testing.
Despite promoting vaccine scepticism, the councils deny being anti-vaccination. The District Council of Grant, the first to pass a motion directly referencing vaccines, described the COVID-19 vaccine as "experimentally approved” – a claim refuted by medical experts. Mayor Kylie Boston, while acknowledging the council’s motion, maintains that the council supports the role of SA Health in safeguarding the community. Similarly, the LCLGA president and Mount Gambier Mayor, Lynette Martin, explained the LCLGA’s decision to raise the issue with ministers as a response to community concerns, despite acknowledging the lack of medical expertise among board members.
The Naracoorte-Lucindale Council passed its motion after receiving a petition signed by 25 residents. Mayor Patrick Ross asserts the council merely seeks assurances about vaccine safety and denies questioning official health bodies or holding anti-vaccine sentiments. He admits the council hasn’t independently sought verifiable information, instead relying on inquiries to politicians and health officials to address any potential doubts about vaccine safety. This approach has been criticized by medical experts, who stress the importance of relying on credible scientific sources and qualified professionals for health information.
This rise in vaccine scepticism comes at a particularly concerning time. Medical experts anticipate a severe flu season this year, compounded by declining flu vaccination rates. Globally, a measles outbreak further underscores the risks associated with falling childhood vaccination rates. Professor Griffin stresses the irresponsible nature of elected officials promoting vaccine misinformation, especially given their platform and public trust. He emphasizes the importance of respecting the expertise of healthcare professionals and relying on credible sources within Australia’s robust healthcare system and academic infrastructure for health information. The promotion of misinformation by local councils undermines public trust in scientific consensus and established health guidelines, potentially leading to decreased vaccination rates and heightened vulnerability to preventable diseases.