Pandemic Restrictions Don’t Apply to Progressive Protesters
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur slammed Lisa Neville’s announcement that fines will not be handed out to Black Lives Matter protesters at Saturday’s rally in Federation Square.
The Facebook event for the rally has 12,000 people who have confirmed their plans to attend, with an additional 17,000 people showing interest.
Yesterday, a rally in opposition to Parks Victoria’s plans to shoot the high country’s brumby population was strictly policed with only 20 allowed on the Parliament House steps and social distancing enforced.
Mrs McArthur told the Legislative Council, “This Andrews operation, drunk with power and cloaked in corona secrecy, wants to fine protesters if they don’t like their cause, but if it suits their politically correct agenda, thousands can gather, while the rest of us are told to stay home and dob in your bosses if they ask you to attend your regular work place.”
“If Victoria Police are not out fining and enforcing social distancing at Saturday’s protest, how can Victorians ever trust this government again?”
“While Victoria remains locked up more than anywhere else in the country, a protest with 29,000 people having flagged their interest in attending, will be allowed to go ahead because the government ideologically agrees with it,” she concluded.
3 June 2020
Full text of draft speech:
Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria): Mr President, all lives matter.
And brumby lives matter too.
So why is it that a protest critical of the government was yesterday restricted to 20 brumby supporters - socially distanced, of course on the steps of Parliament House while the Police Minister has declared no fines will be issued for protesters who plan A Black Lives Matter protest in this city on Saturday?
This Andrews operation, drunk with power and cloaked in corona secrecy wants to fine protesters if they don’t like their cause but if it suits their PC agenda, thousands can gather while the rest of us are told to stay home and dob in your bosses if they ask you to attend your regular work place.
If Victoria Police are not out fining and enforcing social distancing at Saturday’s protest, how can Victorians ever trust this government again?
While Victoria remains locked up more than anywhere else in the country, a protest with 29 thousand people having flagged their interest in attending, will be allowed to go ahead because the government ideologically agrees with it.
All lives matter, Mr Andrews and Ms Neville, not just those who might be your friends.