Traders slam ‘extraordinary’ double standards over planned rally
Traders in Melbourne’s CBD have slammed the decision not to fine anti-racism protesters for their plans to flout coronavirus restrictions in a mass rally on Saturday, while the Premier has been accused of putting everyone’s safety at risk.
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City businesses have slammed the police and Premier over the decision not to punish tens of thousands of anti-racism protesters expected to flout coroanvirus restrictions by converging on the CBD on Saturday.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer and Health Minister are urging as many as 40,000 protesters not to put their own and other people’s lives at risk, but authorities say those who thumb their noses at the restrictions will not be fined.
Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday “people should not be protesting”, but added he “wouldn’t want to be inflaming things”.
“Do you lock people up, do you inflame what is a pretty volatile situation ... or as Victoria Police has done, take a commonsense approach and say ‘Look, it’s by no means ideal, but it’s certainly better than seeing that gathering on Saturday deteriorate into something like the scenes we’ve seen overseas,” Mr Andrews said.
Victoria’s COVID tally grew to 1678 on Thursday with eight new cases, including six quarantined returned travellers and a household contact of a case linked to the Rydges hotel outbreak. Authorities are also working with Global Resource Recovery in Laverton after two employees, connected to the Keilor Downs family outbreak, tested positive last week.
The state Opposition on Thursday called for police and the government to get tough with the protesters.
“The right to protest is important but it should not come at the expense of public health during a pandemic,” Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said. “Victoria cannot run under two sets of laws; one for protesters and one for everybody else.” Although federal recommendations limit gatherings to 100 people, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians had the right to protest and those at the rally should adhere to social distancing.
Victoria Police has said it would not be feasible to fine thousands of people at the rally. Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said officers “don’t want to be in enforcement mode, being RoboCop”.
Officers have already dished out more than 6000 fines of $1652 for individuals and $9913 for businesses that breach restrictions.
The decision not to fine protesters comes despite the State Government’s unyielding stance until now on its coronavirus restrictions, which saw families banned from visiting on Mother’s Day and limits on mourners at funerals.
More than half the state’s students are not yet allowed back at school, despite classrooms being declared safe.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said: “Now is not the time for thousands of people to gather together, putting your and others’ health at risk.
“We are still in the middle of a pandemic and this protest carries real risks for Victorians, particularly those in vulnerable groups.
“The restrictions are there to save lives. I urge everyone to consider other ways to show support.”
Opposition police spokesman David Southwick said Mr Andrews had “thrown Victoria Police under a bus and left frontline officers to clean up his mess, putting everyone’s safety at risk”.
Businesses across the city said it was outrageous they were forced to abide by restrictions that limited patrons to 20 a time when protesters would not be punished for breaching rules.
Greg Kahan, owner of The George on Collins restaurant, said it was “totally frustrating”.
“All these people protesting, how is there going to be social distancing?” he said.
“It is totally frustrating when we are only allowed 20 in our venue. Hospitality is suffering the most. What is good for the goose has to be good for the gander. If (they’re) allowed the protest, let us have more people.”
The protest will also force the iconic Imperial Hotel, opposite Parliament House on the corner of Bourke and Spring streets, to close tomorrow, just days after it finally reopened.
“From an operation perspective, it is not practical for us to open,” hotel manager Ben Anderson said.
Small Business Council boss Peter Strong said it was “extraordinary” the protest was taking place.
“It is disturbing,” he said. “Of course people have a right to demonstrate, but the messages are completely mixed.
“Small business has pivoted, changed. We are working hard to stay safe, but this is a joke.”
Bourke St’s popular Butchers Diner will remain open tomorrow, with its Minneapolis-born owner Steve Lichter remaining optimistic.
“I hope it stays peaceful, I don’t expect it to be aggressive,” he said. “It’s democracy, but it just takes a little spark for things to get out of control.
Mr Lichter said the violent protesting and looting in the US was “waiting to happen”.
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