No Halo For A Lockdown That Should Never Have Happened
The Premier of Victoria’s announcement today to lift the lockdown in regional Victoria is a disgrace.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said it should never have happened in Covid-free country Victoria in the first place.
“Lockdown 6 was pointless in country Victoria,” Mrs McArthur said.
“When Thursday night’s 8pm manifesto came into play – it represented an abuse of power and gross over-reach by the Victorian Government,” Mrs McArthur said.
“The whole basis upon which the regions were locked down was proven false: there were no virus fragments in Wangaratta’s wastewater. And yet we get no sorry or timely policy reversal.
“Today, the Premier parades like a peacock, fluffing his holier-than-thou feathers and presenting an image of reason to the regions.
“There was no reason for this lockdown.
“Yet in lifting the lockdown in regional Victoria, he has maintained restrictions that make zero logic given the absence of the virus.
“Private gatherings are still not allowed in homes.
“Masks are still needed indoors and outdoors.
“Sport can be played, but no one is allowed to watch.
“Restaurants and cafes can operate, but at limited capacities.
“Funerals and weddings can have 50 people and churches can have no more than 100 people.”
“The Premier’s halo is not higher or brighter or better today.
“It is non-existent – like his morals and care for regional Victorians.
“Loved ones will still die alone, restaurants will still struggle to operate, families cannot come together, children continue to face anxieties, masks are madness and borders remain a nightmare.”
Mrs McArthur said she cannot remember a time when such community anger has been felt.
“Extreme lockdowns and restrictions are critically wrong – and the public knows it.
“The community is emotionally spent, angry, exhausted. Despite desperately wanting to, they are afraid to get on with their lives.
“People are scared to book anything – knowing a click of the finger from a scatty, boastful Premier will see everything unwind again within hours.
“He has killed social and business confidence.
“Today’s announcement bodes ill for Melbourne. The Premier’s spin – his $2 million taxpayer funded lip service - always comes with a sting.
“Melbourne can expect the metropolitan lockdown to continue beyond 7 days.
“With businesses slipping through the funding cracks, and restaurants screaming for survival, this nightmare is not over yet.”
“The Zero policy makes zero sense and it’s time this Government realised it.”
09 August 2021