Texas lobby group’s attempt to shame Australia’s lockdown rules backfires

A meme posted by a citizens’ lobbying group in America that compares Australia to a prison has backfired in a spectacular fashion.

A meme posted by a citizens’ lobbying group in Texas that compares Australia to a prison has backfired in a spectacular fashion.

The Texas Freedom Coalition posted the image to its Facebook page on Sunday that likens Australia’s strict Covid-19 lockdown laws to a penitentiary system.

A map of Australia is pictured alongside the text: “What the world’s largest prison looks like from space”.

In a caption written alongside the meme the Texas Freedom Coalition wrote: “Pray for Australia. It’s almost unbelievable what is happening there”.

However, Aussies were quick to turn the tables on the meme-makers by posting pictures of their lives Down Under.

“Ahh Texas. Thanks for your concern. We’re going quite fine thank you without your thoughts, prayers and our gun laws and real coffee,” one user posted alongside an image of his coffee with the Aussie bushland in the background.

The meme was posted by a Texan lobby group. Picture: Facebook

“Yep, lockdown here in greater Sydney is just unbearable,” another added sarcastically alongside a picture of an empty beach and a blue sky. “Whatever will we do.”

“It’s a tough prison for sure,” another posted with an image of pristine coastline.

Others slammed the page for the state’s draconian abortion laws, including ex-Bachelor star Matthew Johnson.

“Little rich coming from a place that has the most restrictive abortion laws in the developed world,” he wrote.

“Pray for women in Texas. It’s unbelievable what’s happening there,” posted another.

Last week, the US Supreme Court delivered the biggest blow to abortion rights in the United States in 50 years by refusing to block a Texas law that bans the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy.

Abortion opponents were celebrating Thursday, while Democratic President Joe Biden lashed out at the court and pro-choice groups geared up for further legal challenges to the “Texas Heartbeat Act.”

Australians posted pictures of their lockdown situations.

The law bans abortion once a heartbeat can be detected, which usually takes place at six weeks — before many women even know they are pregnant — and makes no exceptions for rape or incest.

President Biden denounced the ruling on the Texas bill as “an unprecedented assault on a woman’s constitutional rights” that “insults the rule of law.”

He took particular aim at a provision of the act passed by Republican politicians in Texas that allows members of the public to sue doctors who perform abortions after six weeks or anyone facilitating the procedure.

“By allowing a law to go into effect that empowers private citizens in Texas to sue healthcare providers, family members supporting a woman exercising her right to choose after six weeks, or even a friend who drives her to a hospital or clinic, it unleashes unconstitutional chaos and empowers self-anointed enforcers,” he said.

“Complete strangers will now be empowered to inject themselves in the most private and personal health decisions faced by women.”

– with AFP