A Race To The Bottom: Geelong's Lament
The Geelong Racing Club should be fuming.
Tomorrow, its biggest race of the year will be run and no one will be there to watch it.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said it is beyond a shame.
“In truth, it’s closer to a scandal,” Mrs McArthur said.
“Last week, as part of a trial, 300 fully vaccinated people went to the races in Warrnambool.
“In two weeks 10,000 will go the Melbourne Cup.
“And on Friday, just 48 hours after the silence of the Geelong race crowd, 500 people will be able to eat outside at pubs and restaurants.
“And to top it off, Geelong has more than 95 per cent of its population with the first dose of a vaccine, and nearly 75 per cent double vaccinated.
“Adjacent Queenscliff, has 95 per cent double vaccinated. A global leader.
“If this was NSW, and not part of dictated Victoria, this day would have been a celebration.
“But it’s Victoria, and non-elected bureaucrats without medical evidence, egged on by the Premier, are controlling the fears and failed fortunes of our region,” Mrs McArthur said.
The 2021 Geelong Cup woes mirror last year’s, where once again horses, fashion and fun were absent from the famous race day.
The Cup holiday is another lost opportunity for Geelong businesses, who have suffered, and some shut down because of the pandemic management in Victoria.
“61 of the 79 local government areas in Victoria have first dose vaccination rates at 90 per cent or higher. Of the 18 others, most are in the 80+ per cent range.
“The council areas with the lowest first vaccination rates are 71.9 for Melbourne, 75 for Yarra and 77.6 per cent in Port Phillip.
“These LGAs are Labor-Greens central.
“The Government won’t even bother to stop the City of Yarra charging local businesses $5,000 per car park they use to enable outdoor dining.
“So, the Government won’t let them trade indoors at a sustainable level, and now the local council won’t let them trade outdoors.
“All this does is highlight that the virus management has nothing to do with science, or medical evidence, and everything to do with politics.
“Unfortunately, the Geelong community, its traders and the famous Racing Club are tomorrow subject, yet again, to Labor left-wing politics ruling their lives,” Mrs McArthur said.
19 October 2021