Joe Hildebrand: Protesters are cowards but lockdown extremists almost as bad

Sydney-siders who went to the unlawful anti-lockdown were nothing but cowards. But the lockdown extremists aren’t much better.

OPINION

Times of crisis are inevitably dominated by fears and feelings. Needless to say, this inevitably makes the crisis worse.

And so in such moments it is only courage and clear-headedness that can save the day. The only question is whether such qualities will rise up and prevail.

We saw a prime example of such primeval lunacy last weekend when thousands of anti-lockdown “protesters” – to use the politest possible term – violated public health orders and got in fights with police horses.

RELATED: Police threaten anti-lockdown protesters with huge fines, arrests

Police at the lockdown protests last weekend. Picture: MATRIX

While a few misguided souls might have had something resembling genuine concerns, there is little doubt that the overall assembly was a grab-bag of anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists and associated nutters whose relationship with reality is rockier than Brad Pitt’s relationship with Angelina Jolie.

As usual the extremes of both left and right came together in a giant violent orgy of idiocy: Organic greeny hippie types marching side by side with angry anti-government types, none of whom had a brain cell to share amongst them.

It is a fool’s errand to offer reason to the unreasonable but for the sake of posterity it is worth putting a couple of points on the public record.

The first is that by their actions these anti-lockdown activists have ensured the lockdown continues for longer and more broadly than it otherwise would have. For example the Central Coast region of NSW, which had an excellent case to argue for restrictions to be lifted, has now had those hopes dashed because a handful of local residents attended the illegal protest.

Dozens of arrests made at the Sydney protest. Picture: MATRIX

The second, and far more salient point, is that so many of these knuckle-dragging numbnuts are diehard anti-vaxxers and it is only by massively ramping up our vaccination rate that we will ever finally put lockdowns in the dustbin of history.

Getting the jab is literally the least that any of these lugheads could do but these supposedly fearless and patriotic freedom-fighters are too piss-weak to even do that. This is cowardice verging on treason.

But sadly such irrational fears are not limited to these lunatics. The lockdown extremists are almost as bad and far more influential.

Even as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced another four weeks of Greater Sydney’s stay-at-home orders there were still those saying it was not enough and even harder measures were required.

Moreover, there remains a view – loudly voiced by the more comfortable classes – that any easing of restrictions is something akin to a crime against humanity.

Just jump on social media and you will find them in their droves.

Such people pride themselves as being bastions of the progressive and compassionate left so let us interrogate exactly what it is they are opposing.

Is it, for example, the ability of blue-collar building workers to earn a living for themselves and their families?

Is it, for example, the ability of isolated people living alone to have at least one friend come over to visit them?

Is it, for example, the ability of disadvantaged Year 12 students to return to school and secure themselves a brighter future?

Or is it the ability to give suicidal and stressed-out kids some respite after an extra 25 per cent of them presented to hospital emergency wards? Which of these would the lockdown luvvies like to sacrifice in the name of care and compassion? I would honestly love to know.

Sydney’s lockdown was extended until the end of August earlier this week. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Indeed, even advocating for education and employment prompts accusations of callous recklessness from those who are safely shuttered from such things.

Last week I argued the vital importance of kids returning to school when it came to easing restrictions, prompting the usual opprobrium from the usual quarters. Ironically one was a senior reporter at the same newspaper that the next day published this report: “Schools should reopen as an ‘essential industry’ ASAP: health experts”.

It was also the same newspaper that published this tragic and vital story almost a year ago: “Thousands of NSW students never returned to school after lockdown”.

Sticking up for workers, sticking up for students, sticking up for vulnerable kids. These used to be the things the left stood for – the kind of left I thought I was – but I guess the compassionate Covid left done left me behind.

Year 12 students will be vaccinated with Pfizer before returning to school. Picture: Zaid Al-Obeidi/AFP

To the NSW Government’s belated credit, Year 12 students will now be returning to school in two weeks’ time, on the proviso that those from high-risk LGAs are vaccinated. Like all good decisions this is both brilliant and a no-brainer.

It is also, be it by accident or design, a watershed moment in the nation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is Australia’s first vaccine passport.

If something as critical as education can’t be accessed without citizens doing the bare minimum they can for their country then there is no reason employment and enjoyment shouldn’t follow.

All restrictions should be lifted for the fully vaccinated and as soon as they are you can bet your bottom dollar that the queues for every vaccine from A to Z will double.

Australians have long accepted the principle of “No shoes, no shirt, no service”. Now it’s time we accepted the principle of “No shot, no sh*t”.