Rita Panahi: Irrational restrictions and mixed messages risk losing public’s co-operation
This week we saw many examples of inconsistent messages from authorities on what we can and can’t do. If the government doesn’t want to undermine the public’s faith and co-operation, they must stop demanding we blindly follow restrictions that defy logic, writes Rita Panahi.
Rita Panahi
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Victorians deserve more common sense and clarity from authorities who have imposed enormous restrictions on our civil liberties, personal freedoms and property rights.
We must all play our part to “flatten the curve” and protect the most vulnerable in our society. However, there is increasing evidence of overreach from police, politicians and Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, who are dictating ever more inconsistent and borderline bizarre edicts that are non-negotiable, until they are, like the much-mocked “bonking ban”.
Last week, Premier Daniel Andrews and Police Minister Lisa Neville forbid couples from visiting each other, with Andrews saying, “It is a price worth paying, because it is going to save lives.” That bit of insanity was overturned within hours but the confusion continues on a number of fronts.
Why can’t a mother take her teen for a driving lesson without a lecture from police and $1652 fine? Hunter Reynolds’ fine was only withdrawn after media coverage and public condemnation.
Why are people who are social distancing being shamed for going to the beach with members of their household? Why can I go for a walk along the water but not cast a line in the bay? If we follow distancing guidelines, why are we banned from activities that do not increase the risk of transmission?
We are living in unparalleled times but it’s not too much to ask for government ministers and the Chief Health Officer to be on the same page. On Monday, we had Sutton advising the public they can visit their holiday home as long as they don’t mix with new groups of people, labelling the risk as “manageable and acceptable”. Minutes later, Health Minister Jenny Mikakos contradicted that advice. Then we had the Police Minister accusing Victorians of “looking for loopholes”.
It’s not good enough to demand people blindly follow restrictions that defy logic. Sadly, there are plenty of mindless sheep who embrace every new restriction and can’t wait to dob in their fellow citizens for perceived wrongdoings.
This outbreak has emboldened every authoritarian-loving misfit with delusions of adequacy.
As infectious diseases expert Peter Collignon said, some of the decrees are “panic decisions not decisions based on data”. The government must ensure restrictions are evidence-based and rational or risk undermining the public’s faith and co-operation.
Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist