Rita Panahi: Fining lockdown critics exposes Dan’s double standards

It sure is a coincidence that two of Dan Andrews’ most vocal critics copped Covid breach fines in the first hours of lockdown.

Chris Lucas has been a critic of the impact of repeated lockdowns on hospitality. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It’s Deidre Chambers, what a coincidence!”

The line from Muriel’s Wedding came immediately to mind upon learning that two of the most vocal critics of the Victorian government’s Covid response were targeted for hefty fines in the first hours of Lockdown Six.

Restaurateurs Paul Dimattina and Chris Lucas both copped $10,900 fines on Thursday night for allegedly breaching directions of the Chief Health Officer.

Dimattina’s South Melbourne restaurant Lamaro’s was not trading after 8pm but there were a few people inside consoling him while Lucas’ city restaurant Society had a few patrons inside waiting on taxis and Ubers to collect them.

Dimattina, who is suffering from health issues, including a chronic auto-immune disease, myasthenia gravis, which has been exacerbated due to the stress of lockdowns, was full of praise for the local police but damning of the cruelty of Victorian authorities.

“The way they are treating people is inhumane,” he said.

Paul Dimattina, owner of Lamaro’s, has been slapped with a $10,000 fine. Picture: Alex Coppel

He has been buoyed by the support of the public, who have offered to pay his fine but he stresses that he does not want charity.

“I don’t want donations or charity, I’d prefer people jump on our website and get a gift voucher for when we reopen,” he said.

Late last week, Premier Andrews said he feared fining people for Covid breaches as it would create a disincentive to come forward for testing and information.

“The easiest thing to say is let’s just throw the book at these people. Well, that won’t change case numbers, it will probably drive them up,” he said.

“We can’t change the choices that this person made but we are very grateful to this person that they are working with us and telling us a full story rather than punishing them for that. I think we should always encourage people to be upfront.”

The infected removalists, who continued to travel despite being advised they were Covid-positive, were fined a measly $200 but authorities are willing to throw the book at members of the long-suffering hospitality sector who have the audacity to be critical of lockdowns and the government.

INFLICTING CRUELTY IN THE NAME OF COVID SAFETY

The Victorian health bureaucracy and the Dan Andrews government should be ashamed of the cruelty they’re inflicting in the name of Covid-safety.

Telling a mother she can’t provide comfort and care for her cancer stricken daughter is borderline barbaric.

Read the opinion piece in full.