Talk to the hand
I'm sure you'll be on the edge of your seat for the reply I received from Karen Andrews' electorate officer.
After sending the fully-referenced information contained in this post to Mr Greg Betts, electorate officer for Home Affairs minister and Federal member for McPherson, I waited for a response.
When my patience ran out, I emailed Mr Betts and cced Mrs Andrews, as follows:
Sunday, 9 January 2022
Mrs Andrews & Mr Betts
As previously advised, my correspondence to you and your (Mr Betts) reply to me has been shared here.
This post has been shared widely around the world, and has now been read by over 3000 people. They, along with myself, are eagerly awaiting your response.
RegardsRobyn Chuter BHSc(Hons), ND, GDCouns, FASLM, MATMS
ASLM Certified Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner
UPDATE: Substack tells me that that post has now been seen by over 10,000 people:
The original version has been seen by over 3,000:
That’s quite a few people who care about whether the Australian government is being told the truth by its principal advisory body on vaccines.
And… drum roll… here is the response from Mr Betts (Mrs Andrews hasn’t deigned to respond; I guess she’s too busy attempting to mop up after the giant mess she’s made of the Djokovic affair):
Monday, 10 January 2022
Good afternoon Ms Chuter,
Thank you for your opinions and quotations. I will inform Mrs Andrews that you have been in contact with us again and that you challenge the findings and recommendations of ATAGI.
Kind regards
Greg Betts | Electorate Officer
Yes, that’s right. The fully-referenced scientific information I provided, that completely dismantled ATAGI’s statement on booster shots for the Omicron variant is merely “opinions and quotations”. And that’s a pretty good insight into how Australian health policy is formed and implemented. These buffoons wouldn’t know the scientific method from their own backsides.
If you feel inclined to let Greg Betts and Karen Andrews know what you think of their performance, email them at Greg.Betts@aph.gov.au and karen.andrews.mp@aph.gov.au.
Robyn,
Unsurprisingly, I am not surprised. I used to work in the federal public service (Department of Health) in Canberra (three and a half decades of it - you get less for murder!) and, amongst other ways of making life better for the Australian people, prepared numerous replies to incoming correspondence for Ministerial signature. The aim was always to avoid answering the question, and dodge the substantive issues raised, and to stick to the approved government talking points. Worked like a charm in discouraging any further bothersome interaction with the citizenry.
Surely, that totally independent panel of experts at PF-ATAGI-ZER couldn't be wrong with some facts - shock horror- surely not !