Celebrity lecturing on lockdown is misguided
The state government’s tone deaf decision making on coronavirus has been laid bare by the seriously misguided and patronising advertising campaign asking us to follow lockdown rules, writes Susie O’Brien.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The last thing we need right now is a bunch of well-known Victorians breaking lockdown rules while telling everyone else to wear masks, stay home and wash our hands.
We do not want a bunch of celebrity do-gooders in sporting stadiums, boxing rings, restaurants and theatres which are closed to the rest of us telling us what to do.
Why are they out and about when we can’t even leave our homes?
Victoria has had more than 400 deaths from the virus, which has decimated our economy and ended daily life as we know it.
But it’s not because people aren’t wearing masks or washing their hands. It’s due to state government incompetence.
The new state government social media campaign called “Staying Safe is in our Hands” is billed as featuring our “most loved Victorians” – some of whom I hadn’t even heard of.
It’s not helpful, it’s patronising and offensive.
The clips feature Waleed Aly from The Project, former MasterChef star Matt Preston, Kenny star Shane Jacobson, comedian Magda Szubanski, jockey Michelle Payne and her brother Stevie, comic Nazeem Hussain, AFLW player Tayla Harris and two stars of the Marngrook Footy Show, Grant Hansen and Leila Gurruwiwi.
Rather than fined for breaking lockdown rules, the stars were paid $2000 for their efforts.
It’s a seriously misguided move designed to shift public focus from the bungling of thegovernment to the incompetence of individuals in the community.
It’s also typical of this government’s tone-deaf decision making that means The Masked Singer can tape with dozens of dancers and singers, but a struggling small business can’t serve one person at a time on a suburban high street.
The campaign was the brainchild of former ABC radio host Jon Faine, which might accountfor the left-dominated selection of celebrities.
Faine is on Twitter saying: “Hope they help! Proud to have made these to help Victorians get the message” and “Hoping to make a difference”.
How arrogant. As if anyone needs a former ABC radio announcer telling them what to think or do.
susie.obrien@news.com.au
MORE NEWS
BABY SON GIVEN EXEMPTION FOR FUNERAL