Rita Panahi: It’s no wonder Victoria has become a laughing stock
Victoria has become the butt of jokes across the nation, first for our illogical coronavirus restrictions and now we’re being ridiculed for a spike in infections. It’s no wonder there is increasing incidence of country Victorians distancing themselves from the antics of Melburnians, writes Rita Panahi.
Rita Panahi
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Victorian Lives Matter! How long will we sit idly by as the rest of the country openly mock and discriminate against our long suffering citizens? Victoria has become the butt of jokes across the nation, first for our illogical coronavirus restrictions such as bans on playing golf and fishing, then for the Cedar Meats mismanagement, and now we’re being ridiculed for a spike in infections and the resumption of hoarding.
Yes, panic buyers who clearly learnt nothing from the madness that took over the country a couple of months ago are again stripping supermarket shelves of essential items.
The idiocy has seen Woolworths reinstate purchase limits for items such as eggs, rice, hand sanitiser, sugar, mince, pasta, flour and of course toilet paper. “Due to elevated demand over the past 24 hours in certain parts of Melbourne, we’re taking the precautionary step of reintroducing a 2 item limit on a number of products across our VIC stores. These limits are only in place in Victoria,” Woolworths said in a statement.
That’s pretty embarrassing but does it warrant Victorians being belittled by politicians,
commentators and even an uppity Northern Territory newspaper.
This week NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned tourism operators in her state, the only one Victorians can visit other than their own, to avoid interacting with Melburnians.
“I call on all organisations not to interact with citizens from Melbourne at this stage,” Ms Berejiklian said. “I would definitely encourage organisations to consider who to allow on their premises and where they’re coming from”
Meanwhile, the Sydney media is blaming Victorians for Queensland keeping its borders closed. If not for the spike in Melbourne than Sydneysiders could be sunning themselves on the Gold Coast.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan blamed the “dire” situation in Victoria for his state’s borders remaining closed and cautioned against following in our footsteps.
“If Victoria has taught us anything in the last few day it’s that the worst thing that could occur right now is the reintroduction of harsh restrictions in our community, it would devastate our local economy,” he said.
South Australians are also having a go but their ‘kick a Vic’ predilections predate any pandemic mismanagement. Meanwhile, the NT News simply tweeted: ‘DEAR VICTORIA, GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER’.
On social media there are growing calls for a wall to be built around Victoria. It’s one thing to be belittled by interstaters but now there is sectarian conflict afoot with Victorians pitted
against each other depending on their postcode.
Three Great Ocean Road caravan parks cancelled bookings of those who reside in six council areas identified by authorities as coronavirus hot spots before a backlash saw a backflip.
Sadly, one can’t be shocked that there is increasing incidence of those residing in country Victoria distancing themselves from the antics of Melburnians.
Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist