Opinion: Daniel Andrews threatens to extend lockdowns, then introduces compulsory jab by stealth

Making the Covid jab compulsory for millions of authorised workers is an attempt to scare people into submission.

Not only is Premier Daniel Andrews seriously considering extending lockdown because of rising cases – he has now introduced compulsory vaccination by any other name.

Requiring every authorised worker – anyone who works outside of their home – to be vaccinated is the easiest way to enforce vaccination without having to strictly force people.

A council gardener who might deal with four people on a good day needs the jab to keep earning an income.

I happen to think being vaccinated is the smart thing to do for yourself, courteous to others and you’re a drongo if you don’t do it.

But that is not a reasonable justification to tie a person’s vaccination status to their ability to earn a living.

It matters little to me whether or not you are vaccinated – I am and I feel safe.

If you want to put your own health at risk, that’s your problem.

More than 80 per cent of Victorians have already had their first dose – so what does this actually achieve, other than being another chest beating exercise by Andrews to scare people into submission?

Many people will be asking why they keep following these draconian rules when the actions of a few – encouraged by Andrews’ lack of sense or compassion – are used as an excuse to keep us under the thumb.

Take Thursday with another chest beating display.

Businesses are apoplectic at the idea that they and their staff will be deprived of income for even longer if lockdown is extended.

It was entirely predictable that people would want to gather on Grand Final day.

It’s only the most religious day in Victoria – and turned out to be one of the best in the Demons’ history.

Premier Daniel Andrews has threatened to extend lockdown. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Chief health officer Brett Sutton and Dan the Demoraliser-in-Chief could have lifted curfew for the night and organised for the game to be screened in parks across Melbourne, thus encouraging people to gather outdoors where Covid rarely spreads.

I suggested exactly that last week.

Instead, they maintained the hard line approach and told people to stay at home.

Which, of course, some people didn’t and now we have an entirely predictable case spike.

Andrews employed his usual response of berating Victorians and threatening to “pause” the state’s reopening.

But it is exactly that rhetoric that caused the spike in the first place.

Victorians are tired and beaten down. We’re sick of being treated like children.

We’re living in a state of no flexibility, with a snails paced road map out of lockdown. The light at the end of the tunnel doesn’t seem to get any closer.

While not legally right, it’s not hard to see why Grand Final day was the last straw for some people.

Every time you employ a lockdown, the concept loses its efficacy. People grow weary and wary the more they’re used and the longer they stay.

Melbourne will become the world’s most locked down city next week.

And for that reason, despite locking down “hard and early” for seven days, we’re about 50 days into our sixth lockdown and cases keep growing.

We’re at the point now where supermarkets have to shut because there are no staff left. They’re all in isolation.

Tram lines are barely able to run because the drivers are all in isolation.

Lockdowns don’t work anymore – and extending them won’t make them work any better.

And then Andrews has the temerity to complain that the federal government will cut off business support after 80 per cent of people are fully vaccinated.

If businesses still require support, it will be because of the actions of the state government.

Stick to the national plan, Dan. If you don’t reopen this state when you promised, the only fitting response is to hand in your resignation.

There’s only so long we can continue to take this.

Originally published as Opinion: Daniel Andrews threatens to extend lockdowns, then introduces compulsory jab by stealth