Sophia Moermond (born 14 September 1968)[1] is an Australian politician. She was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council at the 2021 state election, formerly representing Legalise Cannabis WA.
Sophia Moermond | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for South West Region | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 September 1968 Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Political party | Independent (since 2024) |
| Other political affiliations | Legalise Cannabis (until 2024) |
Early life
editMoermond was born in Rotterdam on 14 September 1968. She moved to South Africa with her parents in 1972, returning to the Netherlands four years later. The family immigrated to Australia in 1983, settling in Heathridge, Western Australia. She attended Ocean Reef Senior High School, then returned to the Netherlands to study nursing. She graduated in 1991 and returned to Australia.[2]
Career
editPrior to entering politics, Moermond was a practising naturopath[3] and Chinese medicine practitioner, based in Perth. She also worked as an educator in the corporate sector.[citation needed]
Moermond studied at Perth Academy of Natural Therapies, having initially trained as a registered nurse at the Anna Reynvaan School of Nursing in Amsterdam. She moved to Western Australia with her parents in 1983, and has an active interest in health, the environment, women's rights, and animal welfare.[citation needed]
Politics
editAt the 2021 Western Australian state election, Moermond was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council as a member for Legalise Cannabis WA in the South West Region.[4]
On 9 May 2024 Moermond quit Legalise Cannabis to sit as an independent, citing a difference in views between herself and Brian Walker on offshore wind turbines.[5]
Political positions
editMoermond has described COVID-19 vaccine mandates as "medical apartheid" and has warned that they will end in "violence".[6] In February 2022 she was suspended for some time from parliament under rules requiring MPs to present a digital identification certificate from Medicare highlighting their COVID-19 vaccination status (exempt or not).[7]
References
edit- ^ "Hon. Sophia Moermond MLC". Parliament of Western Australia.
- ^ "Inaugural speech" (PDF). Hansard. Parliament of Western Australia. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ "Sophia". Legalise Cannabis WA.
- ^ "South West Region Results - Western Australia Election 2021 guide | WA Votes". ABC News. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ^ "Cannabis MP suddenly quits over offshore wind". 9 May 2024.
- ^ Zimmerman, Josh (16 February 2022). "MP Sophia Moermond warns vaccine mandates are 'medical apartheid', will end in violence". The West Australian. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ^ Carmody, James (15 February 2022). "Legalise Cannabis MP Sophia Moermond suspended from WA parliament over proof of vaccination mandate". ABC News. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
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