Susie O’Brien: Keeping Dan’s pandemic declaration is a dangerous overreach

Dan Andrews and his Cabinet of Incompetence are trying to keep us in a constant state of fear by extending the declaration and being cagey about new mandates.

Welcome to Victoria, where newbie Ministers of Mismanagement are in power but no one’s in charge.

With Premier Daniel Andrews away, no one is around to explain why the draconian pandemic declaration has been extended for another three months.

Acting Premier Jacinta Allan said it was up to Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas.

Thomas said her public health team was looking at modelling and floating ideas about new Covid restrictions such as mask mandates and further work-from-home orders.

But she couldn’t be pinned down on the detail or timeline.

Then Industry Support Minister Ben Carroll contradicted Thomas and said no mandates or lockdowns were being considered.

And then the Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said it was a “life or death matter” and health advice would be followed.

But she wouldn’t say what health advice she was referring to.

Daniel Andrews with Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas. Picture: David Crosling

We still don’t know why the pandemic declaration, which was due to end this week, has just been extended or what it means for us.

It’s the kind of power-hungry overreach we’ve come to expect from Dictator Dan and his mob.

If it’s true that there will be no more mass mandates, why extend the declaration?

If there are no plans to use them, then why not recall the powers?

Andrews said this was because Covid was still a “serious risk to the public”.

But this doesn’t make sense at a time when restrictions are easing in places like airports and schools.

Even Covid-positive parents can now drive their kids to and from school while they are isolating.

Andrews is catastrophising once more by failing to tell us Covid is only a serious threat to certain vulnerable groups.

Although there are rising cases, the Premier’s “serious risk” only exists for those over 70, those with other serious medical conditions, those who have not been vaccinated and those in aged care.

While the threat for these groups shouldn’t be downplayed, it’s wrong to suggest every person who catches Covid is equally at serious risk.

Vulnerable groups deserve better; if we put everyone in the same category, then there’s a risk people won’t go out of their way to protect those who really need it.

Daniel Andrew is trying to keep us in a constant state of fear by extending the declaration and being cagey about new mandates. Picture: David Crosling

Restriction fatigue is setting in and we need to concentrate efforts where they are needed the most: in health care settings and aged care, not across the board.

Other states such as South Australia, the NT and Tasmania have ended their pandemic powers, so why not us?

Such moves don’t preclude the continuation of some Covid restrictions, such as seven-day isolation for positive cases.

Recovery is impossible amid such uncertainty, keeping us further under the control of Dan’s draconian government.

Three months is well past the end of winter, and represents a dangerous overreach.

WA, for instance, is extending its emergency powers fortnightly. There is no reason why that can’t happen here, although even that isn’t necessary.

With the fourth-dose rollout now reaching people as young as 30, there’s no need for such measures.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy is right that Victorians want control over their lives back. We’re at the point now where people are only following rules they think are justified.

For instance, masks are still mandatory for those on public transport, but it seems most people aren’t wearing them.

New figures show 66,000 people were warned but just 58 were fined for not wearing masks on public transport. What a huge waste of time and public money.

People on trams, trains and buses are choosing not to wear masks because they are making their own judgments on what’s safe for them and others.

Two-and-a-half years into the pandemic, people feel empowered to decide not to wear a mask if they don’t think it’s necessary.

They’ll wear one when visiting their elderly parent in an aged-care home, but not while on a near-empty train carriage. We have earned this right by now.

People are making their own choices when it comes to mask wearing. Picture: David Geraghty

Victorians need strong leadership from our state government to protect our interests, wellbeing and economy.

There are concerning rumbles coming from federal health bodies such as the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, which suggests workplaces should consider the feasibility of staff working from home.

There’s also the federal ATAGI group that’s looking at “other public health and social measures”, including “increased us of masks”.

Uncertainty is the greatest enemy of a city already on life support.

We need to know what’s ahead, but it seems like no one in the Cabinet of Incompetence running our state can tell us anything.

In the meantime, they’re trying to keep us in a constant state of fear by extending the declaration and being cagey about new mandates.

If they think they’ll be rewarded for it in November, they’re sorely mistaken.