Victoria Police ‘assessing’ images of Victorian MPs without masks during former AFL coach appearance
While politicians fawned over a former AFL legend and posted pics to social media, one big element was missing. Now cops are involved.
Victoria Police say they are “assessing” pictures of a number of Victorian Liberal MPs inside parliament without masks during an motivational appearance with a former AFL coach.
The images were shared freely on Facebook by several politicians showing some notable names including Opposition Leader Matthew Guy alongside former Essendon AFL coach Kevin Sheedy without a mask.
Under the current rules in Victoria, masks must be worn in all indoor settings for those aged eight and above.
Mr Sheedy had given a motivational speech to the Nationals and Liberals joint party room meeting for 2022 on Tuesday morning, the same day federal and state parliament returned for the first week of the year.
Mr Guy said Mr Sheedy had spoken about some of the ways forward “working as a team” as it prepares to win back losses from the November election.
“At the start of each Parliamentary sitting week, the Liberal Party meets – in what we call a Party Room meeting,” MP for Brighton James Newbury said.
“This morning, Australian rules football legend Kevin Sheedy, joined our Party Room to talk about shaking things up and the future of Victoria.”
He described Mr Sheedy as “the future of our state”.
Mr Sheedy played and coached AFL between 1967-2013 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.
Shadow Treasurer David Davis is also among those pictured alongside Assistant Shadow Minister for Public Land Use Melinda Bath.
According to Wendy Lovell, Liberal MP for the Northern Victoria region, Mr Sheedy is “an innovative thinker who changed the face of the AFL by challenging the clubs to embrace change, modernise and be more inclusive.”
“I think it’s important that when you receive an Order of Australia that you cover all spectrums of the landscape of our country,” he told 7 News before the event.
Authorities told news.com.au: “Victoria Police is currently assessing images circulating on social media of MP’s without a mask on in parliament on 8 February.
“As the incident is being reviewed by investigators, we will not be providing further comment at this stage.”
Mr Sheedy said he was not paid for the speech.
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In October last year, Victoria Police issued two infringement notices to Premier Daniel Andrews and fined him a total of $400 for failing to wear a mask on two occasions.
The two incidents occurred outside Parliament House.
At the time Mr Guy slammed Mr Andrews, calling for authorities to make Mr Andrews face “the full force of the law” if he did not have a valid reason.
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