Barracking For Failure
The Premier of Victoria’s attack on those who disagree with him has shown he is thin-skinned and unable to deal with criticism.
Daniel Andrews wants to extend the State of Emergency until December 15.
The State Opposition opposes the extension before the State Parliament this week without the full disclosure of the health advice behind the request.
In response, Daniel Andrews this morning told the media that “…those who barrack for failure, I think Victorians will judge them very, very harshly, as they should…”.
Liberal Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has told the Parliament that the extension is extreme and it should be opposed.
“It is not just disappointing, but disastrous. Victoria is now 28 days without a locally transmitted coronavirus case, there were just three in the previous two months, and yet the restrictions remain,” Mrs McArthur said.
She has condemned the Premier’s attitude towards those who disagree with his decree for ongoing dictatorship.
“Again we are seeing the greatest level of hypocrisy this state has ever seen.
“No one has failed more grossly in their job than this Premier and his stewardship of the 801 deaths through failed hotel quarantine and contact tracing.
“Yet, it would seem those barracking for failure are the Andrews Government and its supporters within the bureaucracy and union movement whose jobs have not been damaged by his State of Emergency.
“To support this extension of the State of Emergency would be barracking for failure.
“It would allow the Government to again restrict cafes and restaurants to 50 per cent or less, borders shut at whim, more mask mandates, families separated, church services minimised or eliminated, elective surgeries on hold, and jobs certainty on a string.
“Who in their right mind would invest in a state under emergency powers?”
“Barracking for a strong future, job certainty, democracy and common sense is not barracking for failure.”
Mrs McArthur has asked the Minister for Health, Martin Foley, to outline the steps he will take to prepare Victoria for a post-Covid world.
“To rely on never-ending state-of-emergency powers cannot be acceptable to anybody with a democratic bone in their body.
“Where is the targeted legislation? The Premier has had a year to get to grips with the virus, and yet still wants to rely on sweeping emergency powers which put our recovery back further.”
Mrs McArthur said if new laws are needed then they should be debated fully in parliament.
“Continuing to rely on powers crafted for wartime or disaster scenarios is the refuge of tyrants. It undermines not just business confidence but the trust which binds a free society”.
“Let’s hope Victorians follow the Premier’s desire and judge those who ‘barrack for failure very, very harshly’.
3 February 2021