Coronavirus: Shock and ire at Sydney ‘east-west double standard’

Meeting with dozens of cultural leaders before a police crackdown on three Sydney LGAs has done little to settle the growing angst among residents.

Lockdown enforcement: mounted police made a brief appearance around lunchtime along Chapel St, Bankstown, in Sydney’s southwest. Picture: Matrix

A meeting with dozens of cultural leaders the night before a police crackdown on three Sydney local government areas at the centre of a growing Covid-19 outbreak did little to settle growing angst among residents, many of whom believe their area is being unfairly and disproportionately targeted by authorities.

As health authorities reported 44 new Covid-19 cases on Friday – almost half of them in southwest Sydney – Premier Gladys Berejiklian said her state faced its biggest challenge since the pandemic began and defended the tough police response. “I need everyone to be shocked,” she said.

It worked … yet for many of those who watched the police begin their “high-visibility compliance patrols” across Canterbury Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool, the shock was at what they saw as over-kill.

The highly publicised show of force involved not just a deployment of 100 extra officers but also the dog squad, mounted police and even the police air wing, PolAir.

“The police should be out in force across all of Greater Sydney, not just our area,” said Canterbury Bankstown mayor Khal ­Asfour.

Many in the community believed the police were “over the top” in the way they had deployed teams across southwest Sydney, he said.

“What has further angered them are reports lingerie and other outlets are open in the eastern suburbs … they are questioning whether they are essential.

“They should have shut down the eastern suburbs completely.”

Most people were heeding health advice and staying at home, not because of the increased police presence but because of increased Covid cases and the gravity of the situation, Mr ­Asfour said.

Police check Covid compliance in Fairfield. Picture: Damian Shaw

The show of force was also criticised by Liverpool mayor Wendy Waller. “When we see mounted police and officers arriving from other parts of Sydney, that does not feel like a community policing exercise,” she said. “We didn’t see the same messaging throughout the Bondi outbreak, the ramifications of which continue to be felt.”

Signs of Covid testing in the area were scarce on Friday.

While the Premier was delivering her daily Covid-19 update just before midday, just three cars were at the Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology drive-through testing clinic in Liverpool.

Meanwhile, 1.5km away in central Liverpool, not a single free car space was available along Macquarie Street; at least 100 pedestrians could be seen in the outdoor mall area, with not a police officer in sight.

Although many people were still out and about, it was far less than previous week, said Bun Me Baguette Cafe owner Tim Nguyen, 29. “Last week, people were playing chess just outside my store,” he said, pointing to eight sets of council-owned tables and chairs and two ping pong tables.

“Yesterday there was still a lot of people out but today there’s a lot less. I can see that it’s been taken more seriously.”

A couple of doors down at Mr Seafood, Greek-Australian owner Andreas Louca, 69, said business had dropped 20 per cent overnight.

“It’s OK ... Hey, I’m used to it, I’m 44 years in the business … you have to take it as it comes,” he said.

Among those out for essential reasons were Fijian-Australian mother Asinate Ulamila, 26, and her four-year-old son, Junior ­Tuisowaqa. “It’s a little bit quieter but not all,” she said.

“Some are hesitant about following restrictions.”

Some 7km away in Fairfield, businesses were also feeling the pinch. La Torre Cake Shop owner Naeem Haq, 52, said his 47-year-old business would not survive if the lockdown continued. “Business is down at least 90 per cent … I don’t think I’ll make it to the end of the month. Now it’s like a meteorite has fallen and I’m one of the dinosaurs waiting to die,” he said. “It’s an old crappy thing but it’s been around for generations.”

Mr Haq said he did not see any police on patrol and it wasn’t until 3pm that two horses were unloaded outside Fairfield Police Area Command.

Police said they conducted 87 business inspections, issuing 51 warnings and eight personal infringement notices between 7am and 3.30pm on Friday. No arrests were made or charges laid.