The Public's Right To Know
The State Government has been urged to release all expert health advice in relation to the New Year’s Eve coronavirus border closure.
The Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, addressed the Victorian Parliament on the issue yesterday as part of a motion condemning the border closure.
The request comes as Premier Andrews re-instates indoor mask mandates and limits to private gatherings from 30 to15 people.
Mrs McArthur said even the beleaguered hotel quarantine system is back in question with a locally acquired case confirmed last night.
She said the mayhem caused by border closures and other edicts demands that the public, through the Parliament, have the right to know the expert health advice.
“Premier Andrews loves nothing more than a panic button. He presses it at whim to suit his desire for ultimate control.
“As he did on New Year’s Eve, the extreme actions result in chaos for families, our economy, our freedoms, jobs, the tourism sector, education and access to vital health needs,” she said.
Mrs McArthur said State Government control over interstate borders through the pandemic has been a disgrace. Borders should be used for interstate sporting competitions not the separation of Australians in this island nation.
“Rural communities such as those in my electorate, have been the biggest victims of these parochial premiers’ power trips.
“Border communities don’t operate via a line on a map. They live, work and access education and healthcare across state lines.
“The next significant victim of these border closures are federal taxpayers who are expected to pick up the bill for these megalomaniac premiers’ economic carnage. The Queensland Premier’s call for more Federal financial help is audacious.
“She used border closures as a blunt political tool – keeping citizens locked up and others locked out only to announce their re-opening the day before her state election.
“Hardworking taxpayers in Western Victoria, and elsewhere, should not be expected to pick up the bill for the incompetence of public officials more than 1500kms away.
“The Victorian budget blowouts are enough for Victorians to deal with.”
Mrs McArthur said the border edicts are more about politics than protecting people’s livelihoods.
“These are scare campaigns. The Premier presents himself as a life saver.
“His shutdowns and border closures have done little more than divert vital police resources from cities and towns where they were needed to keep us safe from criminals, not a virus.
More than 700 police were deployed even when there was just one ‘red zone’ left. The entire 1200km border was closed with 31 checkpoints manned.
“His decisions have come at huge cost.
“It is clear to most that the advice on border closures and masks is more likely to come from political advisers than health experts,” Mrs McArthur said.
4 February 2021