Victoria, the entire state, not just Melbourne, went into a (supposedly) five day hard Stage 4 lockdown on 13/02 because of a tiny outbreak of the UK “Variant of Concern” (VOC, as proud gay man Brett Sutton refers to it) of the China Virus and there appears to be more resistance to it this time, and definitely at least sullen weariness.
The most incredible aspect of it is the rural one, in that people in areas and towns that have never had any China virus infections are required to stay at home 23 hours a day and wear a mask for the hour they are outside, assuming people actually abide by these absurd rules.
The resistance to it is mostly passive, visible in the substantial number of people who don’t wear masks outside, though this is more common in inner city areas than out in the suburbs.
This, in the heavily Greek area of Oakleigh, is less passive, and most interesting for the fact that police seemed somewhat stand offish this time, not kettling them like normal and doing mass arrests:
Violence has spilled over in Oakleigh’s main shopping strip as angry lockdown protesters clashed with police.
The mask-free mob claim lockdown is killing more people than it’s protecting. @LauraTurner_9 #9News pic.twitter.com/j9UXAx0pOF
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) February 15, 2021
If the lockdown does get extended beyond the five days (in formal, written terms the lockdown order is for two weeks, but they said five days) of course things may get interesting further, and there are reports that police are warning the government about possible consequences if so, but this is anecdotal.
Then there’s this fellow:
This dude says no thanks to Victoria’s lockdown.
Journo: “Did you realise there's a lockdown?” pic.twitter.com/GiMzguDmR8
— Keira Savage (@KeiraSavage00) February 15, 2021
At least one church congregation had some courage:
A Narre Warren Church has defied the Chief Health Officer's directions, throwing open its doors for a Sunday morning service.
More than fifty people packed the building, with the Pastor telling police he is obeying God. @Elisabeth_Moss9 #9News pic.twitter.com/Ta9MfFgz7c
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) February 14, 2021
And it turns out not all journalists are spineless sycophants, and this one, Leigh Sales, is ABC, not Newscorp/”Murdoch”:
Short version:
Leigh Sales obviously didn't feel she got to interrupt Dan enough when he was last on 7.30.
She's decided to give us her feelpinions & Liberal/IPA lines about opening up.
Leigh seems to think the virus will get bored and go away.
(she didn't stop there!)#auspol #covid19vic pic.twitter.com/4FmCpu3Z9C
— Squizz (@SquizzSTK) February 15, 2021
Full version:
There’s been a hysterical reaction against her questioning of the Great Leader Dan.
The monstering now of Leigh Sales of all people (!) is really something to see.
— James Morrow (@pwafork) February 15, 2021
Finally, John Pilger, maverick leftist journalist, happens to be in town at the wrong time, and he’s not having it:
The human damage done in the Australian State of Victoria by Dystopia Dan Andrews' impulsive lockdowns is spelt out in this damning official report:https://t.co/0PyUslg0XU https://t.co/lkbUiqo89o
— John Pilger (@johnpilger) February 12, 2021
In Julian #Assange's homeland, Australia, there is Covid scaremongering in a pandemic-free society, there are pages on Trump's absurd impeachment trial and there is barely a word on Biden's decision to proceed with an appeal against a journalist who told the truth. How shameful.
— John Pilger (@johnpilger) February 14, 2021
I have witnessed the Covid emergency in the UK and Australia, where I am now. The govt of Victoria has slashed health care, botched track-and-trace, disregarded mental health, run risky quarantine hotels, set up ridiculous border rules and issued threats. This keeps no one safe.
— John Pilger (@johnpilger) February 13, 2021
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