A Very Unsettling Standard
Labor’s Member for Buninyong has single-handedly shown up the Victorian Government’s arrogance and blindness to the devastation it is causing through its COVID-19 mismanagement.
On her Facebook page, Michaela Settle joined the Government’s advertising blitz called, ‘There’s one million reasons to get vaccinated’.
Ms Settle’s reason was “To get back to big footy crowds at Mars Stadium.”
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said the comment is breathtaking and insulting.
“She cannot be for real,” Mrs McArthur said.
“Here is a regional MP, based in Ballarat where there is currently no virus and very few cases across the duration of the COVID ‘crisis’, but is in total lockdown.
“Ms Settle has voted in support of her dictatorial leader for the State of Disaster powers and the extension of the State of Emergency powers.
“With these votes, Ms Settle has kept children out of school, parents unable to work, aged family members alone and playgrounds boarded up to look like military compounds.
“She has supported the closure of businesses.
“She has stopped children playing sport – anyone playing sport – or learning music, or going to dance schools, gymnastics, or singing lessons.
“She has stopped people going to church at a time when prayer is the only thing providing hope to many.
“She has caused people living alone and isolated to be fearful and despairing.
“She has supported the cancellation of medical appointments, breast screening services, vital and long-awaited surgeries.
“She has caused the ongoing cancellation of weddings and the inability of people to attend the funerals of loved ones.
"Her vote has encouraged a climate of fear and finger pointing, whether at other states, city vs country, and even other countries
“Even today – her Government has stopped the live streaming of music events – so even virtual businesses providing much needed joy can’t operate.
“And despite all this – her big reason for getting people vaccinated – is so she can go to the football in Ballarat.
“If you weren’t sure before – then be sure of it now – we are not all in this together.
“Ms Settle and her Government – clearly, clearly – have no idea of the harm they have caused and the damage still being done.
“820 lives have been lost due to her Government’s disgraceful failures in hotel quarantine – followed by a $20 million dollar taxpayer bill for an inquiry in which they couldn’t remember a thing – and Ms Settle still thinks that going to the football is the big reason to get vaccinated?”
“There are a million reasons to get vaccinated, if you choose to. And I might just name a few for Ms Settle to consider:
To get children back to school
To get children back to sport
To get hospitals, surgeries and medical appointments fully enabled
To get people back in work
To get businesses operating
To get borders open and never again closed
To get tourism and events happening
To get the aged visited in the aged care facilities
To get masks off our faces
To get people moving more than 5kms from their homes
To have freedom from daily diktats and fear mongering
To stop bureaucrats and unelected ‘experts’ controlling our lives
To stop spiralling debt for future generations to repay
To travel freely
To enjoy time with our family and friends
To live life as we once did
To love this island country as a nation not as a series of fiefdoms lorded over by megalomaniac Premiers
“Ms Settle may settle for much less.
“But Victorians demand much, much more,” Mrs McArthur said.
Unsurprisingly, Ms Settle has taken her Facebook post down.
24 August 2021