Cumberland Mayor says public health orders ‘like living in Nazi Germany’

A Sydney mayor who compared NSW’s new Covid rules to living in ‘Nazi Germany’ has apologised for offending people, but says he will not be standing down.

Police Minister David Elliott has let fly at a western Sydney mayor who has compared the latest public health order rules as akin to living in “Nazi Germany”, calling on him to step down.

Cumberland Shire Council mayor Steve Christou has been attacking the NSW government for weeks about the harsh restrictions being imposed on his community, which remains one of the “hot zones” in Sydney with high daily case numbers.

After recently comparing the covid-ravaged western suburbs to “Zimbabwe or Kazakhstan”, Mayor Christou tweeted an image of last night’s rule changes with the message: “Welcome to Nazi Germany”.

Cumberland mayor Steve Christou.

Mr Elliott and Police Commissioner Mick Fuller successfully lobbied Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard to tighten the public health orders to make the rules easier to enforce.

Under the changes, Greater Sydney residents will need a permit to leave the region, anyone anyone living in one of the 12 locked-down local government areas — including Cumberland — will need to register the name of their “singles buddy” with authorities.

The changes to the singles bubble rule followed complaints from police of “blokes” moving around the area, declaring they were visiting someone in their “bubble” - something that was becoming impossible to enforce, Mr Elliott said.

Welcome to Nazi Germany. pic.twitter.com/k8oDm1TGyS

— Mayor Steve Christou (@ChristouSteve) August 13, 2021

Mr Elliott said Mayor Christou’s latest comment demonstrated “ignorance”.

“Using a public health crisis for political gain is the most abhorrent thing I have seen in my 35 years of political activism,” he said.

“He needs to take a leaf out of the NSW Opposition’s book who have been nothing but constructive.

Letting fly... Police Minister David Elliott. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

“To liken any Australian government to the horrors of Nazi Germany not only shows a blatant ignorance of history but insults the memory of those who suffered at the hands of Fascism. The mayor should step down and apologise given he is clearly unfit for public office.”

On Saturday night Mr Christou issued an apology to anyone he may have offended with his reference to Nazi Germany, but said he would not resign.

“This sincerely was not my intention,” he said. “In regard to calls for my resignation. I will not resign.

“The people who are criticising me do not understand that I am advocating for the needs of my community who are telling me they are desperate. They can’t feed their kids, pay their rent, bring in an income — and they are lacking in all these resources due to this state government’s continued failures. They say they have no one else to turn to.

“It is my job to advocate on behalf of my community that they need vaccinations and they need assistance payments fast-tracked by the state government.

“My community is the most vulnerable in NSW and has suffered dearly throughout this whole ordeal. Who is to speak up for them?

“I apologise sincerely and unreservedly for any hurt caused regarding my comments. I was not trying to offend anyone. I am expressing the despair of my community.”