Some premiers take a tougher stance on Black Lives Matter rallies
Some premiers are taking a tougher stance against demonstrations after a Melbourne protester tested positive.
Premiers sent mixed messages before last weekend’s Black Lives Matter protests — urging people not to attend yet conceding they probably would take part and defy public health advice.
But after a Melbourne marcher tested positive to COVID-19 after Saturday’s protest — and as another wave of rallies is planned — some state leaders have started to change their tune.
Melbourne
Victorian federal MPs demanded on Thursday that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews take a tougher stance on Black Lives Matter protests after more than 10,000 people marched on Saturday.
A spokeswoman for Mr Andrews said the government’s message ahead of Saturday’s rally had been “very clear: don’t go.”
But despite Mr Andrews’s advice, Victoria Police said they would not fine protesters because it would be too logistically difficult.
“Big events are not allowed. Big events are not safe. Big events will do nothing but spread the virus,” Mr Andrews said last Friday.
“We don’t want all the hard work, all the sacrifice that Victorians have made, frittered away by people gathering to make an important point, but it is not the only way to make that point.”
After a non-indigenous man aged in his 30s tested positive to COVID-19 after he attended the march, Liberal MP Tim Wilson told The Australian on Thursday he did not expect Mr Andrews to move against any future protests, despite his tougher stance on other breaches of social distancing.
Other Victorian politicians, including Opposition leader Michael O’Brien and Liberal MP Tim Smith, said Mr Andrews should have taken a harder stance against the protest.
The premier’s spokeswoman said full contact tracing of the man was underway, “but we urge anyone who attended the protest with even the mildest of symptoms to self-isolate and get tested immediately.”
Sydney
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian took a tough line against the protest last weekend and reiterated that message on Thursday over a planned rally at Town Hall on Friday.
Ms Berejiklian said she would draw a “line in the sand” for mass gatherings. About 20,000 people attended the rally in Sydney last Saturday after the Court of Appeal deemed it lawful less than 15 minutes before it commenced.
“Do not risk the health and safety of others in order to express a view … We can all do that once the threat of the pandemic is over,” Ms Berejiklian said on Thursday.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said people attending Friday’s rally could be issued $1000 fines.
Before last weekend’s protest, Ms Berejiklian said the potential for a second wave and an outbreak of coronavirus was “extremely high in NSW”.
“All of us have given up so much and worked so hard to make sure we get on top of the virus,” she said.
“What this protest has turned into is a flagrant disregard of the health rules. We can’t afford to have exceptions for anyone.”
South Australia
A second rally in Adelaide was cancelled after police confirmed marchers would not be given an exemption from COVID-19 restrictions, unlike the protest last weekend.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said if people decide to gather in Victoria Square on Saturday, they could be fined for breaching COVID-19 restrictions.
Last weekend Mr Stevens allowed the protest to go ahead in Adelaide and said it was a “unique and extraordinary” event.
Over 5000 people attended the rally at Victoria square.
Premier Steven Marshall said he appreciated the frustration and anxiety about the issue but backed Mr Stevens’ decisions.
“We had a successful rally — there were no injuries or arrests, it was peaceful and respectful and made a strong point around the cause,” Mr Marshall said.
“There will be a time where we get back to protests with larger numbers but that time isn’t now.”
Queensland
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would not stop last weekend’s rally.
A spokesman for the Premier said she stood by her comments: that “people should not attend as we are still in a health emergency.”
But before the rally last week Ms Palsazczuk said: “If you do go, we are asking people to be very mindful of social distancing and stay in family groups,” she said.
The soft stance goes against enforced strict limits on gatherings that remain in place, with a public health directive that states outdoor events must not involve more than 20 people.
Western Australia
West Australian premier Mark McGowan urged organisers of a Black Lives Matter protest planned in Perth to postpone after a Victorian contracted coronavirus at a rally in Melbourne.
“I just ask them, please use some common sense here. This is about trying to save people’s lives and trying to stop any potential community spread of the virus,” Mr McGowan said.
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