Protesters urged to self isolate to reduce the risk of virus super spreaders
A Victorian MP has no plans to self-isolate after attending the Black Lives Matter protest, saying it wasn’t much different to going into the city normally. It comes as the AFL backed a key executive who marched in Adelaide.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victorian upper house MP David Limbrick said he planned to return to parliament when it sits next week despite attending the Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne.
It comes as the AFL backed a key executive who marched in the Adelaide rally.
“I intend to keep continuing doing my work,” Mr Limbrick said.
“I took all the reasonable precautions. I don’t think it was much different to going into the city normally.
“I have no reason to think there’s any issue.
“The protests went ahead and I wanted to witness it. I consider my job as a politician to see these things with my own eyes.”
Mr Limbrick said he had not been contacted by presiding officers at parliament but would likely speak to them over the next few days.
He said critics who had lashed him over the decision to attend the rally were being hypocritical.
“A lot of these people are the same that have been criticising the government for being authoritarian,” he said.
“They’ve turned into lockdown lefties.
“Why should you say you defend the rights of protesters in Hong Kong and not defend the rights of protesters here.
“Either you defend people’s liberties or you don’t.”
The Australian Medical Association has urged anyone who attended public rallies over the weekend to quarantine themselves for a fortnight to prevent the risk of a super spreader within the community.
AMA president Dr Tony Bartone said attendees should follow the advice of event organisers, Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance, by staying at home for 14 days and getting tested if symptoms appear.
“Every member of the community needs to realise the rallies of the weekend unfortunately puts the whole of the community at risk,” he said.
“We as health authorities will be bracing for an uptick in cases and we won’t know (how many) until the next two weeks have elapsed.
“In Melbourne we have three hot spots and we only need one person to spread the virus .. If one turns out to be a super spreader many people will become infected.”
Dr Bartone said this advice applied to all attendees, including members of parliament.
“They come into contact with an enormous amount of people in their working week,” he said.
“This is potentially risking all the hard won gains of the last few months.”
On Monday morning the group behind Saturday’s controversial city protest urged all participants to self isolate for a fortnight.
“Please ensure you self isolate for at least fourteen days after the rally,” the Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance group posted to social media this morning.
“Be mindful of your health and speak to a doctor if you have cold or flu like symptoms.
“Don’t visit elderly.
“We are relying on your common sense and discretion to consider what’s best for you.”
Speaking last week to the Herald Sun, protest organiser Meriki Onus said the rally was “an essential service”.
At least 10,000 people crammed into the CBD on the weekend for the rally.
AFL STAFFER ATTENDS RALLY
The AFL is supportive of key executive Tanya Hosch marching at a state-sanctioned Black Lives Matter protest in Adelaide.
Hosch is the league’s general manager of inclusion and social policy and marched at the Adelaide protest in support of George Floyd alongside former politician Natasha Stott Despoja.
Marches around Australia have sparked fears of a coronavirus outbreak at a time when the AFL is working hard with governments around the nation on its return to football this week.
Hosch tweeted that it was her first “socially distant rally” amid a massive turnout in support of the Black Lives cause.
She is not currently in contact with AFL players in her role, with league executives working remotely across the country.
The South Australian state government granted a state coronavirus exemption to peaceful protesters demonstrating in the wake of George Floyd’s death in the United States.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens issued an exemption which allows a gathering of more than 80 people in a public place for the “one-off, unique situation”.
The AFL is hopeful the South Australian state government will ease its border restrictions in coming weeks to allow Adelaide and Port Adelaide to return from Queensland hubs to play football in the state.
It must strike a delicate balance with governments given it has asked for and received exemptions to train and play professional sport not afforded to others in the community.
West Coast Eagles flies to the Gold Coast today to base itself in an isolation bubble for a month, while Fremantle flies to Queensland tomorrow.
The AFL has also issued every player with strict isolation rules during the return to football, including bans on golf, surfing and visitors.
VICTORIAN POLITICIANS IN HOT WATER OVER RALLY
Two Victorian politicians are under fire for protesting at the Black Lives Matter rally against strict public health advice.
Despite being told by federal and state officials to stay home, Victorian upper house MP David Limbrick and Victorian Senator Janet Rice breached coronavirus restrictions to rally on Saturday.
They were among more than 10,000 people who were yesterday labelled “selfish” and “irresponsible” for ignoring health advice and putting others at risk.
Liberal Democrats’ Mr Limbrick was at the protest for at least four hours and told the Herald Sun he was disappointed so few politicians attended.
“I knew personally there were risks for me as well but I thought it was important,” Mr Limbrick said.
“I took provisions myself. I wore a mask and sanitiser and tried to keep away from others.
Victorian Greens Senator Janet Rice said it was a “really difficult decision” but attended, despite heading into a sitting week in Canberra on Wednesday.
“I will do everything to maintain physical distance and plenty of handwashing and hand sanitiser and open door handles not using my hand,” Senator Rice said.
The federal politician was at the protest for about an hour, arguing it was OK because there had been some loosening of restrictions in Victoria and she minimised contact with others.
“I did everything I could to minimise the risk down to a level which I feel given the current restrictions was something that I felt was acceptable,” she said.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has asked Janet Rice to think “long and hard” about coming to Canberra to attend the sitting week after she attended the Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne.
“My advice for every member of parliament, whether they be federal or state or territory, would be the reason we are here today, the reason we have had the success that we’ve had, is because we’ve followed the expert medical advice,” Mr Tehan said.
“We need to continue to do that.”
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann yesterday slammed the protesters as “selfish” and “irresponsible”.
“It does impose unnecessary and unacceptable risks on to the community,” he said.
Mr Cormann said the protests would have caused heartbreak for the families who had been unable to attend funerals because they took the advice of health experts.
Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson said the protest was a failing of the state government.
“[Police Minister Lisa] Neville and the state Labor Government have blatantly turned a blind eye to mass crowds which dramatically increase the risk of coronavirus spreading and put lives at risk,” she said.
The actions of Senator Rice were irresponsible and she should not attend parliament this week, Senator Henderson said.
“It’s very irresponsible if she does actually attend the Senate on Wednesday,” Liberal Senator Henderson said.
“I cannot believe that after what we have seen with Victorians acting in such good faith, missing funerals, cancelling weddings, closing businesses, that the Victorian government is effectively turning a blind eye to these gatherings.
“It sends a very poor example when you have a federal member of parliament, a Victorian Senator, not doing the right thing.”
When asked about Victorian politicians who attended the rally, Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne said the advice from health authorities had been clear.
“While I completely respect people’s right to protest they should have followed the Chief Health Officer’s advice,” she said.
“What the members who attended the rally do in their own personal circumstances is entirely up to them.
“But if people do feel unwell, if they are exhibiting any symptoms, I would absolutely urge them to go and get tested.”
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly yesterday called it a “wait-and-see” moment, with the increase in cases not expected to be known for about a fortnight.
“All it would need would be for one or a few people that are infectious with COVID, and remember, you can be infectious before you feel sick, and this is a very infectious virus,” he said.
He said protesters were not required to self-isolate, but if clusters of cases connected to the gatherings emerged in the next week that advice could be reconsidered.
“If we were to start seeing cases crop up in the next week for example, then we may need to change that message but at the moment, what has happened has happened,” Prof Kelly said.
Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Annaliese Van Diemen “sincerely hopes” there is no outbreak as a result of the protest.
“It really will be at least a week, probably closer to two weeks, before we have an idea of whether there have been any transmissions,” she said.
Protest organisers will each be fined $1652 for breaching the rules set out by Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
Victoria Police were yesterday still investigating the if any other charges or fines would be issued as a result of the US-inspired action.
”While the clear advice of the Chief Health Officer was not to attend – we were pleased to see the protest was peaceful,” a Victorian Government spokesman said.
The easing of social distancing restrictions could be delayed if there was a spike in cases across the city.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the protest should not have gone ahead.
more news
MORE NEWS:
DAN’S MAN OPENED THE DOOR TO CHINA
FIGHTMND CO-FOUNDER AMONG QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS