Be More NSW And Reward Effort
The Premier of Victoria has been urged to be more like the NSW Premier, Dom Perrottet.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has asked Daniel Andrews to relieve restrictions in any local government area that reaches the 70 per cent double vaccination rate.
On Monday, at the 70 per cent rate, NSW enabled enormous freedoms to be re-asserted, restrictions eased and small businesses and hospitality returned to trade.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said it’s amazing what a difference competent government makes.
“As Premier Perrottet said, it is a freedom day,” Mrs McArthur told the Victorian Parliament.
“Imagine having a Premier who doesn’t each day berate his NSW constituents, blame a different population group, individual or another State for the abject failure of their own Government’s pandemic response?
“NSW residents have goalposts that are promised and met. The hope is real and the milestones celebrated.
“But in Victoria, despite the same 70 per cent vaccination goal, rumours are abounding that the Andrews Government may delay their measly easing of restrictions even further.
“It’s freedom Victoria-style,” she said.
Mrs McArthur told the parliament that Victoria’s contact tracing system remains problematic.
“Having learned nothing from NSW, the Victorian contract-tracing regime appears just as hopeless as when Premier Andrews’ government killed 801 people via their hotel quarantine catastrophe – something I’m happy to remind the Premier about in case he does not recall.”
Victoria is in day 71 of a 7-day lockdown and has 1572 new locally acquired cases in the last 24 hours, compared to 444 in NSW. Victoria’s figures totally surpass the very worst days of NSW.
“It is difficult to say what is more ridiculous – this government’s assertion of a ‘short sharp lockdown to flatten the curve’, now in its eleventh week, or its repeated assurance that the situation is in hand.
“Freedom-loving Victorians are looking north to NSW enjoying the fruits of their hard work, guided by a government that is willing to invest in the freedom of its people.
“It’s demoralising for Victorians to watch.
“It is why I have asked Daniel Andrews to take a leaf out of Premier Perrottet’s leadership manifesto and return freedom to Victoria, specifically any local government area that reaches 70 per cent double vaccination.”
Local Government areas that already comply with the 70 per cent target are Queenscliffe, Buloke, Yarriambiack, Southern Grampians, Surf Coast, Moyne, Warrnambool, Alpine, Strathbogie, Mount Alexander, Bass Coast, Bayside, Nillumbik and Macedon Ranges. Many others are very close to the 70 per cent mark.
13 October 2021
