UAP Cowper candidate Joshua Fairhall says Covid changes a ‘stunt’

Smoke, mirrors and Covid rules have a local businessman marvelling at the ‘coincidence’ to ease mandates in the run to the federal election. Here’s why.

Local small business operator Joshua Fairhall has labelled the NSW Government’s backflip on Covid restrictions a “stunt” - even though he and his family caught the disease.

The state announced on Wednesday that it would wind back a number of regulations, including the mandatory isolation of people identified as close contacts.

Mr Fairhall, the United Australia Party’s candidate for Cowper, said the easing of Covid rules was “very coincidental”.

“Covid has been paused for the election,” he said.

The 38-year-old runs appliance and furniture stores in Kempsey, and a third shop at Gloucester - and believes Covid mandates and state border lockdowns were ill-advised and manifestly unfair.

Joshua Fairhall: “People lost jobs, lost careers - there were hundreds locally and half of them have joined our party.”

“No government should stop the ability of a business from trading,” he said.

Kempsey-based Mr Fairhall, who is not vaccinated, said he and his family caught the virus earlier this year - lying them low for about a week.

“It’s (Covid) nothing more than a mild flu for the majority of Australians,” he said, adding it could prove deadly for some.

He believes the government’s initial response to lockdown businesses had crippled the economy - and “people lost jobs, lost careers - there were hundreds locally and half of them have joined our party”.

Mr Fairhall said a look down the main street of Coffs Harbour - and the empty shops - showed the cost of the Covid controls.

Rather than shutdown industry, he said a better response by government would have been to “lockdown the sick”.

In anticipated announcements made on Wednesday by the NSW government, Covid restrictions will ease from 6pm on Friday.

FLASHBACK: The Covid testing station at Coffs Harbour. Photo: Chris Knight.

Close contacts will not have to isolate if they have no symptoms but they must comply with guidelines such as not visiting aged care, hospitals, disability facilities and correctional facilities unless a special exemption is granted.

There are no changes for positive cases, who will still have to complete seven days of isolation.

Vaccine mandates for aged care and disability workers will remain in place.

In addition, unvaccinated international returning travellers will not be required to undertake hotel quarantine from April 30.

Mr Fairhall said he had managed to keep his businesses afloat throughout the Covid lockdowns - and hadn’t taken any of the government support payments.

He said he would campaign on freedom for small business, and backed the UAP’s pillar policies to make university education free, wipe HECS debts and introduce a 15 per cent licence fee on iron ore exports to pay off the nation’s debt in 20 years.

Raised in Bowraville, Mr Fairhall said there are telling hyperlocal issues in Cowper.

“It’s 2022 and we’ve still got dirt roads,” he said.