Covid protest: Warringah candidate John Ruddick says being at march will boost Liberal Democrats vote

A Liberal Democrat candidate for the federal seat of Warringah reckons his push to lift Covid lockdowns and flout public health orders will get him more votes against incumbent, Zali Steggall.

The political candidate slammed for attending the weekend’s Sydney “Freedom March” and saying it would be an “experiment” to see whether ”corpses would pile up” after protesters marched without masks has refused to back away from his controversial comments.

John Ruddick, the Liberal Democrat who is taking on independent Zali Steggall in Warringah at the federal election, says his strong support for lifting the Covid lockdowns could actually win him more votes on the northern beaches.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Warringah John Ruddick joined protesters who marched down George St in Sydney during a rally against Covid lockdowns and other restrictions last Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

In a series of Tweets from Saturday’s protest march by about 3,500 people opposed to the lockdowns and mask wearing rules, Mr Ruddick Tweeted that he received more than 1000 messages from his critics “hoping everyone who attended dies of Covid”.

His Tweet also said. “It was a jam-packed protest and 99% had no masks … so we have conducted an experiment. Will there will be corpses piling up in three weeks from now from Covid! Let’s see.”

Mr Ruddick posted continuous updates from the protest, criticising some media for saying the protest was violent. ”The media is lying. This was the happiest protest imaginable,” he posted. ”People are smiling for the first time.”

He also Tweeted on Sunday that police had visited his home to tell him about an incoming $1000 fine for breaching Covid restrictions.

He boasted to his Twitter followers: “No problem – I‘ll frame it and put it on the wall”.

But Ms Steggall has Tweeted on the weekend that a “selfish” Mr Ruddick should stay out of the northern beaches.

“Please do not return to Warringah. You are putting our businesses and health at risk. So many are doing the right thing at great personal and financial cost and you are showing your truly selfish character.”

John Ruddick said the rally was the “happiest protest possible”. Police officers on horseback move in to help another officer. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

Ms Steggall also called on locals to “name and shame” anyone identified from the rally.

“When these idiots test positive, are they on their own or do our amazing health frontline workers have to take care of them?”

On Monday Mr Ruddick told the Manly Daily that despite receiving thousands of negative Tweets about his stance and numerous “unsolicited phone calls” to his home, he expected support for him to grow.

John Ruddick, Liberal Democrats’ candidate for Warringah, attended the anti-lockdown protest in Sydney. Picture: Twitter

He said he expected that some of the of the 42 per cent of people who voted Liberal at the last election, would now vote for him,

“Out of that 42 per cent who voted for Tony Abbott I reckon a hell of them are pretty commonsense conservatives who know what’s going on.

Protesters climb the awning at Sydney Town Hall during the anti-Covid lockdown rally in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

“I think they don’t want to vote for a (Liberal) Zali-lite candidate and they a want a strong conservative alternative.

“An alternative that is anti all the Covid mania.”

Mr Ruddick said there would be many self-employed people suffering financially in Warringah who were unhappy with the lockdowns.

Police arrest a protester at the Sydney Freedom March. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

“I accept there is a very bad version of the flu out there, but we’ve got to make a choice out of two bad options.

“One is to continue to lock up and do all the collateral damage.

“Or option two is we say as soon as everyone who wants a vax, has had a vax, which shouldn’t be too far away, we' go back to normal.”

Mr Ruddick said that the criticism he has received from high profile figures such as Ms Steggall and former prime minister Kevin Rudd — who said Mr Ruddick and others “put lives at risk” for attending the march — was helping his cause.

“All it does is bring PR to the campaign … it’s certainly going to communicate to that 30pc out there that there is an alternative which they might not have known about prior to this publicity.”