The Esperance Shire has vowed to keep the doors open to unvaccinated residents at its events and meetings for as long as possible, despite the looming threat of the Omicron variant.
It has also pledged to write to Premier Mark McGowan and state ministers about the negative impacts of vaccine mandates, but will not advocate for them to be lifted.
At a council meeting yesterday, the nine councillors responded to a petition and several motions put to them over recent weeks by those opposed to mandates.
The councillors rejected a call to declare the region a "pro-choice community", noting this would have no impact because mandates were set by the state government and people would need to comply regardless.
But they all agreed letters should be sent to state officials outlining local concerns and making special mention of the impacts mandates had on volunteers and the agricultural industry.
Grant Shipp, a resident who is among those opposed to mandates, said this "went to the heart" of what they were calling for and was pleased with the result.
It is believed the letters will be sent late this week or early next week.
Shire president Ian Mickel said he could not predict how Mr McGowan would respond.
"Whether the Premier responds with a letter or whether he ignores it … we will wait to hear," he said.
'The tide has turned'
While most people in Esperance are now vaccinated – as of Monday, 93.9 per cent of people aged 16 and older were fully vaccinated – the councillors are sympathetic to mandate concerns.
Councillor Steve McMullen, who was particularly vocal at the meeting, knocked back a suggestion to "acknowledge that the high community vaccination rates indicate a general acceptance of the need for vaccines and mandates".
"I genuinely believe that the tide has turned on that one," he said.
Cr McMullen went on to talk about the unvaccinated residents who could no longer earn a wage, put food on the table or set foot in their own family businesses.
He said some were experiencing serious mental health issues because of the mandates and claimed others were being verbally and physically abused while trying to enforce them.
He also said many of the rules did not make sense.
"Our community is divided and people are hurting," Mr McMullen said.
Cr McMullen said he did not believe all mandates should be dropped and that if a person tested positive to COVID they should be required to isolate.
But he believed barring people from entering a cafe or restaurant was wrong and took particular issue with requiring volunteer firefighters to show proof of vaccination.
His sentiment was met with applause by many of the 20 people in the public gallery and endorsed by other councillors, including Jennifer Obourne.
Council to accommodate unvaccinated at events
Councillors unanimously agreed that wherever possible council events, meetings and festivals should be held at venues the unvaccinated could attend.
This stemmed from a motion put forward at the annual electors meeting a few weeks ago.
More than 180 people attended after council changed the venue so unvaccinated people could participate.
Mr Mickel said the council was not trying to evade state health guidelines.
"It's not saying that every event that might be held might be in a venue that has got COVID risks," he said.
He also did not believe council was "pushing back on mandates".
"I think we are just stating the facts," Mr Mickel said.
"Yes, we will get COVID here — we know that.
