THE Victorian Government has been urged to remove the “often nonsensical” mandatory wearing of face masks in regional Victoria in line with the rest of the country.
Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur told State Parliament this week the wearing masks should be optional even in metropolitan Melbourne where, in many circumstances, they were unnecessary.
Ms McArthur said a statement by Premier Daniel Andrews this week that Victorians could be wearing masks at least until the end of the year or into next year was “deeply disturbing”.
“The face-mask mandate is made under the state of emergency powers,” Ms McArthur said.
“This statement is proof that the government has no intention of winding back its extraordinary powers when the public health crisis subsides and their excruciating clandestine goal of elimination is achieved, a goal which many believe is unattainable.
“Victorians should be extremely concerned about their government’s insistence on retaining the powers it has accumulated during a crisis.
“The masks mandate is problematic for a number of reasons.”
Ms McArthur said workers on a farm or a couple bushwalking in the blistering summer heat or someone walking alone down a country road with no person in sight and no COVID-19 case within hundreds of kilometres should not be forced to wear a mask.
“Face masks should become voluntary across the state,” she said.
“Victorians should be encouraged to be responsible for their own welfare and that of their fellow citizens, particularly in high-risk environments, but continuing to mandate them is wrong and unjustified.
“By all means ensure the best available masks be provided to health workers, who appear most at risk.
“Many people have legitimate reasons for not wearing masks but are singled out for abuse and threatening comment while this government insists on wasting police resources having them implement the Labor Party obsession with fining Victorians.”
Meanwhile, The Nationals’ leader Peter Walsh said regional Victorians were right to question the evidence supporting the continued lockdown.
Mr Walsh said moving to the last step of easing restrictions would get more people back to work and revive regional economies with more opportunities to spend in town.
“According to the Andrews Labor Government’s roadmap to reopening, it’s safe to move to the last step when there’s been no new cases recorded for 14 days,” Mr Walsh said.
“Regional Victorians have met that threshold, yet we’re prevented from taking the next step towards COVID normal because our future is still chained to Melbourne.
“More weeks of restrictions means more pain for regional businesses and communities – we deserve to know why we are being kept under lock and key.
“If the public health advice is supporting this lockdown, why won’t the Andrews Labor Government release it to give country people peace of mind that it’s in our best interests?”
