Politicians Single Out Kelly Slater For Vaccination Stance
Following the Novak Djokovic scandal, numerous Australian politicians have singled out Kelly Slater for his anti-vaccine stance.
Despite the Australian leg of the Championship Tour being three months away, Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck proactively warned the eleven-time world champ that the only chance of entering the country was with a vaccination.
“I reckon he knows the rules. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a surfer, or a tennis player, a tourist or anyone else, those are the rules. They apply to everyone,” Colbeck told Nine Media. “I don’t like the chances of him competing in Victoria, and I’d hate to think of what the chances were of him competing in Western Australia.”
(Richard Saker/ The Observer)
Slater's hesitancy on vaccines predates COVID-19 with public comments made on social media dating as far back as 2016. Since COVID, however, he's become more strident and outspoken saying recently, "I know more about being healthy than 99 percent of doctors", and “maybe Stockholm Syndrome can now change its name to Melbourne/Australia syndrome”.
This morning, Senator Jacquie Lambie continued the criticism saying, “You might want to tell Kelly Slater we are not the only country putting our foot down on this."
Lambie continued, “These sports people need to realise most countries over the next few months, that is where it is going. Unless you are double-vaxxed and lining up for your booster, you ain’t coming. That happened last week to another sports star.”
Despite earlier protestations to the contrary, Slater now claims he's not 'anti-vaccine' but rather 'anti-vaccine-mandate'. A subtle difference that leaves the door ajar for a vaccinated Slater to enter Australia with his integrity intact.
However, if he chooses not to enter then Slater will forego his last Australian leg as a full-time competitor, as the almost-50 year old surfer flagged retirement at the end of this season. It would almost certainly quash any chance, however slim, of a twelfth world title.
Slater isn't the only surfer with a shadow hanging over their movements, as last August Gabriel Medina admitted he hadn't been vaccinated, dismissing the efficay of vaccinations. He quickly walked back the comment, saying "vaccines save lives" and that he would soon get vaccinated. However, that's yet to be confirmed.
Comments
That makes you a very selfish arsehole lorrissa , (regardless of self belief )
Not really….. I’ve never had any signs or symptoms, get tested daily for work, never get sick, are super fit & healthy, doctor & specialists advice is: Do not wear a mask for better immunity, no need for me to be jabbed! I live with a triple jabbed who was positive & I never caught it, work with 3 triple jabbed positive cases & never caught it. Negative results daily…… How is that selfish when I’m perfectly fit & healthy with no symptoms??? Why are the double & triple jabbed so worried about the daily negative results for a health unjabbed individual, when their all jabbed & I’m not????? If the vaccines actually worked, what are the jabbed worried about???? Ohhh, 21 double & triple jabbed contacts of mine have all caught Covid, and I haven’t??? Shouldn’t the vaccinated be concerned for the unvaccinated instead??? Appears not, although I’m not concerned whatsoever if I catch it (I’m tested daily)!!!
Typhoid Mary had no symptoms but she managed to kill at least three people and infected many others.
Get over yourself.
Well, for the last two or so days I have been checking-in to follow this thread. I would liken it to test cricket: Engaging too much time watching would be a severe waste of time, but I like watching parts of it and I see the comments increase like runs on a deteriorating whicket. Its been enthralling in some sessions. A few sixes and fours but, mainly just unplayable spin. It almost feels like there has been significant rain delays and the thread is now just bogged down in the style of cricket heading for an inevitable draw (reinforced divide).
But, that's giving this 'debate' too much credit. To me, for the most part, it seems more like primitive shit-slinging. I wonder, has anyone's mind been swayed by this thread? (and that's a rhetorical).
Well said!
More often than not, the people commenting on threads like this have a very strong opinion one way or the other. Definitely not swing voters. You generally won’t find too many people looking for guidance either. Argument in this form is mostly driven by self satisfaction.
Love the metaphor Crab. Appears many on this thread seem to be lost down that crack in the pitch, looking for Tony Greig’s key that is just not there. I thought the same has anyone’s comments on here changed opinions? Probably not!
I’ve worked out the only real world solution to this pandemic is for John John to win another world title this yr. This indeed will ensure people feel the world is ‘normal’ again.
Settle down. John John will need to be on his game 'cause he's got a few screamin' Aussies to get through.
Be a shame if Ke12y wasn't able to compete in all wsl rounds this year.
Funk me look at the bustard. He is not man, he is machine.
..."carry on bowling 'em low and wide Brett, low and wide."
I think I am losing it :(
Haha.
I’d say you might be if you think 50yr old Kelly and a couple of rough head Aussies have a chance against a fit, inform JJF.
Good point. I have absolutely no idea which way to bet.. if ... even i knew which way... to bet.
Just remember, whatever point you want to make on the great vaccine dispute has already been made many 1000’s of times on the internet and hundreds of times on this forum. So, just relax. Job done. Put the rifle down.
People have different views. Dance in the moonlight.
To vax or not to vax? That is the question. Lets call it a mitzvah-(and look at it through the prism of the Jewish doctrine)
“None of these reasons are fully satisfactory and it is clear that this mitzvah falls into the category of Mitzvahs that have no satisfactory reason - Chukim. The reasons of many of the commandments in the Torah are beyond our comprehension. This allows for our acceptance of a Higher reason and the realization that our comprehension is limited.”
Great to hear Wally :-)
I’ve posted a few personal situations, mostly Re: focus on health & fitness, and you should be alright (I’ve dodged catching it quite a few times with super long term close contacts now)……..
But, the ‘keyboard warriors’ are super quick to sling sh*t on me & throw daggers :-(
Very disappointing from an online surfing community, when my local surfing communities builds each other up & supports one another regardless of personal vaccine decisions.
Good luck to all, hope u are all safe & healthy & happy :-)
Not up for anymore sh*t slinging for merely sharing info
Nahhhh, Kelly will either get vaxxed or do the quarantine, win at least one of the big dream tour location events setting up a top 5 position, then paddle out at Trestles in brand new OK star trunks and deliver the greatest result of his career
Let’s gooooo
I'm sure Slater will be able to handle it.
Margs has always been one of his less successful events,and he's well past his prime to ring another bell down in victoria now.
He can just be thankful that Pipeline is on an island that technically he's a citizen of.
There and Chopes are the only 2 events at this stage of his career that he's still a front runner to win in now.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/12/nba-nfl-surrendered-v…
Clearly the Vax doesn't work and the Government has been selling us snake oil and now The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended lifting international travel bans and relaxing proof of vaccination, citing their ineffectiveness at containing the spread of COVID-19 and the limited global access to vaccines.
https://canberraweekly.com.au/who-recommends-lifting-international-trav…
https://theathletic.com/news/unvaccinated-nfl-players-no-longer-subject…
The most intelligent discussion about the topic I've seen
https://www.facebook.com/therealrukshan/videos/986452598952598/
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-23/get-vaccinated-or-get-novaked-au…
Funny how everyone has a different opinion or different angle on things
which is human nature and its great but what concerns me is that the whole
world seems to have forgotten completely that this was released by China
as a act of war and has worked brilliantly for China and all you people
just blame politicians, pharmaceutical companies, doctors, medicos,
neighbours, friends and the dog up the road in reality its ruined our
lives and freedom the impact is massive. Everybody is a expert and
could done things better well of course, easy in hindsight just get
a grip and unite and blame China.
As for vaccination as long as you test negative come and go as normal
if you catch it suffer and die well thats your choice. Slater is Slater and
thats that a shame he cant do a final world tour but may save some face.
Right at the beginning experts said getting high vaccination rates combined with natural immunity that will arise was the goal and not to fuss about the vax worriers or residual unvaxxed
Made sense then Makes sense now.
Fuck paying for medical advise…. from now on I’m going to swellnet any time I’m crook .. soooo many experts here .. I feel safe
Too right, Rojosh! You should try out the other covid thread. There’s enough medical expertise over there to staff an entire hospital. Many of them have done thorough research on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Bitchute.
Haha.
Told myself I wouldn’t comment again but your comment gave me a good laugh.
Happy surfing.
Let's be clear that is Swellnet subscribers and not Swellnet that have the expertise. I mean, quite like the gap between medical experts and gen pop., those ignorant meteorolgists forecasting the weather and surf have nothing us.
And now for some good news.
Tim Thompson's wife had their baby girl, Elke, Saturday before last.
Proof positive that the shit life can at times throw at you will not last forever, and that the beauty and joy it has to offer is just around the corner.
Just chill and wait for it you guys.
AB, respectfully, I don’t agree with your comments.
I want to know which one of you crackpots keeps vandalising the bridges between Mooloolaba and Gympie.
Not me. I have been fully vaccinated + booster. I sighted the Novak spray on the bridge at Sippy Downs you mention. Not good. Now off to work trying to keep the Hospital open for business.
It's on all of them up to Gympie. Gets cleans it up and old mate comes back.
Even if it were pro vax messages, keep it off public property. Spray it on your own stuff. Get some bumper stickers or something.
I propose a study titled
"Empty vessels make the most noise"
Due to the quantity of comments in response to a recent Swellnet article, a research question was formed:
Has productivity decreased among commenters since January 19?
From a review of the literature in the same comments section, it was hypothesised that average productivity in the sample would remain reasonably stable, controlling for baseline procrastination.