Jamie Scicluna: Wyndham Council candidate flouts Melbourne’s lockdown laws
A Wyndham Council candidate accidentally outed himself on social media when he shared photos of himself at a beach 15km from home. It’s not the first time the wannabe politician has gotten in trouble online.
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A Wyndham Council candidate allegedly breached Melbourne’s strict stay at home orders to snap photos of himself at the beach.
Iramoo ward candidate Jamie Scicluna shared a selfie on social media of himself and his son at Werribee South Beach on September 13.
The post was made about a week after the state’s stage 4 lockdown was extended.
Werribee South Beach is about 15km away from Mr Scicluna’s Wyndham Vale home and well outside his permitted 5km travel radius.
The photo was tagged “1HourExercise” and “within5km” and both Mr Scicluna and his son were wearing masks.
Point Cook resident Simon Opera shared Mr Scicluna’s post on Facebook this week and told the Leader the candidate’s behaviour was unfair to those obeying the rules.
“So many of us are doing our best to get through this trying time,” Mr Opera said.
“I think behaviours such as his are completely disrespectful for those of us that care so much about our community.”
But speaking to the Leader, Mr Scicluna said the photo was taken before Melbourne’s 5km rule came into effect.
He said he posted the photo to encourage people to go out and be active while stuck at home.
“I deny I breached the 5km restrictions,” Mr Scicluna said.
“I’m advocating people to go outdoors.”
Social media users were quick to blast Mr Scicluna for his post.
“He is an absolute fool”, one Facebook user wrote.
“(He’s) last on my list for Iramoo, that’s for sure,” another user wrote.
Wyndham has been hit hardest by the state’s deadly second coronavirus wave, which has so far killed 794 people.
A total of 2264 cases have been detected across the municipality, more than any other Victorian local government area.
DHHS figures released on Wednesday also show Wyndham still has 48 active cases.
And it’s not the first time the embattled Iramoo candidate has copped flak online.
He came under fire following the last council election in 2016 after he allegedly defamed a rival Greens candidate by calling him a paedophile on social media.
The then Labor backed candidate levelled the disgusting allegations during two exchanges on two separate Facebook groups.
One message was in response to a post by his rival that called him a “laughing stock”, in which Mr Scicluna responded; “I’d rather be the laughing stock than the alleged pedo”.
The other comment labelled his rival a “bitter, vindictive old man” and “an accused sex offender”.
Mr Scicluna later denied calling the man a paedophile.
More information about Mr Scicluna and his policies can be found on his website.
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