New South Wales is defending a third tranche of lawsuits challenging the state government’s response to COVID-19, including vaccine mandates and health restrictions. On Sept. 17, the NSW Supreme Court heard from the state health minister’s lawyer Daniel Reynolds that it was facing a new civil suit launched by John Larter, veteran paramedic, and deputy mayor of the Snowy Valleys Council. Larter is challenging a public health order mandating that health workers in the state receive the first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 30, and the second dose by Nov. 30. He launched an online fundraiser to cover his legal costs, which has raised $47,000 as of Sept. 17. “I am fighting for this as I strongly believe no person should be discriminated against due to their medical status, and under no circumstances should they be excluded from the workplace due to that medical status,” his GoFundMe page stated. …