Caleb Bond: Lifting curfew on grand final night would give Victorians a glimmer of hope

The weak-as-water roadmap was a downer for many Victorians. Allowing us to enjoy the grand final with friends would be a boost to get us through.

Lifting the curfew would give Victorians the opportunity to picnic outside with friends. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Despite the fact there is no genuine health advice for a 9pm curfew, we continue to labour under this draconian rule.

It would have been the simplest of freedoms to return immediately under Daniel Andrews’ and Brett Sutton’s snail-paced roadmap out of lockdown.

Instead, we are punished for no good reason.

But even if they don’t want to lift it permanently for some reason (mainly because it makes life easier for the cops) then the least we deserve is a reprieve on grand final night.

The game won’t start until 7.15pm in Melbourne, which means it will be after curfew by the time the game finishes.

Unless you’re willing to house your singles bubble partner – around whom, by the letter of the rules, you’re meant to wear a mask at all times – for the night, it precludes you from having someone over.

The Virtue family will celebrate the grand final in their backyard. Picture: Tim Carrafa

It’ll also stop diehard fans from having a chilly night-time picnic with friends to watch the game.

grand final day is Melbourne’s second most religious day behind Good Friday.

It is a day when, usually, we would gather at the pub or the houses of friends and family for a barbecue.

In my hometown of Adelaide – a town almost as footy mad as Melbourne – that is exactly what will happen.

Here, you’ll be lucky to hear the dull roar of your neighbours.

Andrews did his usual routine on Thursday of throwing Sutton under the bus. He would seek his advice on whether anything had changed that would make it safe to lift the curfew for just one day.

But the premier forgets that he is elected to make moral decisions.

He is not obliged to accept anyone’s advice, including that of public health bureaucrats.

There is no evidence that the curfew has stopped a single case of coronavirus.

Premier Daniel Andrews needs to let us out on grand final night. Picture: Sarah Matray

It simply makes it easier for police to find and arrest people who have broken gathering rules and would have done so regardless of the curfew.

To lift the curfew for one night so Melburnians can enjoy the grand final with their nominated mate or four fully-vaccinated friends poses absolutely no risk.

It poses no more risk than it does during the day – which, if it is outdoors, is next to nil.

The weak-as-water roadmap was a downer for many Victorians – a discouraging blow at the moment that they needed a sign of hope to keep their heads above water.

Allowing us to enjoy the grand final with others would be such a small olive branch.

But it would be one that would mean so much to so many – a small boost to get them through the next two months.

It’s the least we should expect.

Originally published as Caleb Bond: Lifting curfew on grand final night would give Victorians a glimmer of hope