Holiday In Fear This Year
Tourism Australia’s ‘Holiday Here This Year’ campaign ads continued to be broadcasted into living rooms across the country, while 12 million Australians were sent into lockdown at the end of June.
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has asked, “How can Victorians possibly holiday interstate, when they do so in fear of being forced into isolation upon their return home, due to overreactive and extreme state government edicts?
David and Clare from Newtown in Geelong recently contacted their Upper House MP to relay their experience of ‘holidaying here’.
David, Clare and their three children had recently returned from a holiday in Darwin, which was designated as a ‘red zone’ under Victoria's travel permit system on Sunday afternoon, despite having only 7 active cases in the entire territory at the time.
Nevertheless, the entire family was forced into isolation for fourteen days. This is despite, all five of them having returned negative COVID-19 tests and having not visited or come close to any of the exposure sites.
Most, if not all, residents of other states were not subjected to these conditions upon return from the Northern Territory.
Mrs McArthur said, “COVID alarmism is butchering the national tourism industry, as well as many people’s lives.”
“The treatment of David and Clare’s family by the Victorian Government is appalling, when they clearly were no risk to the community.”
“Obviously we want Victorians to consider visiting the fantastic tourist locations in our state, especially those in Western Victoria — whatever is left of them, after the carnage of Labor’s lockdowns — but if families decide to travel interstate, especially after watching Federal Government promotional ads, then that is their prerogative as citizens of this country.”
“To designate states and territories as ‘red zones’ with so few cases is simply crazy. These rules have a massive impact on people’s lives and the Victorian Government should recognise this.”
“We have to bring some common sense back into the discussions about interstate travel and COVID rules.”
“Australian taxpayers are being charged millions of dollars for ad campaigns by the Federal Government encouraging them to travel domestically, while their holiday plans are being subsequently ruined by state government border closures and disproportionate isolation rules.”
“Victorians need to be given the confidence to make holiday plans, without the fear of sweeping and illogical rules that unnecessarily keep them locked down in isolation for two weeks.”
“We want Australia’s tourism industry to thrive again, but this is impossible under the current modus operandi of state government border control.”
“The panic across the country has left our Federation fractured and frightened.”
“Common sense, not irrational parochialism must be the order of the day.”
“Our state leaders need to come up with a system that better allows for Australians to plan their travels.”
“Clearly, this virus is here to stay in one form or another, so it is essential we all learn to live with it, make necessary COVID safe adjustments but allow people to get on with life and return to normal.
9 July 2021
