NPR

Enzedder wrote: Mon Sep 14, 2020 6:26 am Cheers - seems strange that the media is so out of touch with the populace but that's Murdoch I suppose.

Lower your Voice: Farnham manager attacks anti-lockdown protesters' singalong
By Ashleigh McMillan, Chris Vedelago and Rachael Dexter
September 20, 2020 — 1.16pm

John Farnham's long-time manager has condemned the use of You're The Voice by anti-lockdown protesters who sang the tune during a small flash mob at Chadstone Shopping Centre on Sunday.

About 50 protesters came together outside the Coles supermarket about 1pm, only long enough to sing a rendition of the Australian classic before dispersing.

Farnham's manager Glenn Wheatley, a giant of Australia's music scene, said the song had been co-opted by demonstrators against the wishes of the legendary singer-songwriter.

"I’m personally concerned people will hear the song and think John Farnham is personally endorsing these protests, and in this case it’s not right," Mr Wheatley said.

"It’s something that John and I do not condone, the use of that song, particularly in a time in Melbourne where we are in stage four lockdown.

"Really, the last thing we should be doing is protesting, no one should be hitting the streets en masse, endangering people’s lives and livelihoods."

Mr Wheatley said he had already seen the song used at far-right demonstrations within Australia, which was "not what we want to see the song used for".

"It was not meant to be a protest song, it was meant to be used as an inspirational song for nations and for people, not in a situation of what was an illegal protest.

"I want to reiterate, we support people’s right to protest, but there’s circumstances where the protest can be done, and taking to the streets of Melbourne today is not it."

Police arrested two people and issued six fines at the gathering, saying it is "only a very small number of people that still choose to put the rest of the community at risk".

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers would investigate those who attended on Sunday.

"We will continue to take the same swift and firm action against those who choose to blatantly ignore the CHO directions," she said.

Organisers had directed protesters to re-form at the closed Footscray Market on the other side of the city after leaving Chadstone, but the protest did not go ahead, as there was already a police presence at the market.

An enormous amount of police resources were expended on trying to thwart the protest at Chadstone, the location of which was released only 30 minutes before the protesters gathered there.

At least three public order response teams and numerous police cars turned up at the centre in Melbourne's south-east 15 minutes after the protesters broke up. Chadstone's security turned people away from the entrance of the shopping centre after the flash mob.

One man was detained by police and led into the shopping centre. Police questioned the man as he was standing at a bakery with a shopping bag in his hand.

The man was heard asking police to take him away from media photographers.

Police walked the man, who was not handcuffed, down a corridor and prevented media from entering, before centre management closed the door on the media.


It comes after 16 people were arrested and 21 fines were issued to protesters who gathered at Elsternwick Park in the city's south-east after their plans to rally in the city failed to materialise on Saturday morning.

Police chased about 100 anti-lockdown protesters in the suburban park as the crowd fled towards Elwood. Police, including several on horses, followed them and arrested a number.

Organisers kept the location of Sunday's protest secret until just before the starting time to try evade police.

Last Sunday around 250 protesters gathered at Queen Victoria Market resulting in clashes with police amidst the fruit and vegetable stalls.

Police arrested 74 people and handed out more than $500,000 worth of fines to hundreds of people.

This weekend marks the third in a row of organised anti-lockdown protests around Melbourne.

"We are frustrated that these people continue to put the lives of Victorians at risk," a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

"Police are playing an important role by enforcing the directions of the Chief Health Officer so we can limit the spread of coronavirus.

Coronavirus: Melbourne’s anti-lockdown protests continue
Anti-lockdown protesters say today's gatherings will look "nothing" like the demonstrations we've seen over the past 24 hours in Melbourne.

"While we know the majority of the community are doing the right thing, the behaviour of these selfish few who choose to blatantly ignore the directions will not be tolerated.

"We will continue to take the same swift and firm action against those who choose to blatantly ignore the directions, and our investigations will continue."

Shanky’s mate wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:04 pm SA has relaxed border restrictions with NSW overnight, meaning no isolation or quarantine requirements on entering SA. Dan Andrews is expected to announce a lifting of restrictions in Victoria as the case numbers hit the qualifying targets on their plan for eventual removal of limits...

These measures allow more freedom and movement... will they also see an increase or possible outbreaks as we’ve seen elsewhere?

Carter's Choice wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:12 pm

Shanky’s mate wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:04 pm SA has relaxed border restrictions with NSW overnight, meaning no isolation or quarantine requirements on entering SA. Dan Andrews is expected to announce a lifting of restrictions in Victoria as the case numbers hit the qualifying targets on their plan for eventual removal of limits...

These measures allow more freedom and movement... will they also see an increase or possible outbreaks as we’ve seen elsewhere?

The SA/NSW border re-opening is an interesting one. How much travel happens between those states anyway? I know places like Broken Hill engage more with Adelaide than Sydney, but relatively speaking you'd have to think the numbers will still be low.

Victoria re-opening travel with NSW will be the big change. If anything goes pear shaped you'd have to think it will be with border opening. But with Victorians still under lockdown and curfew you'd think we are still a few weeks ago from free travel across the Murray River.

Shanky’s mate wrote: Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:27 pm Relatively speaking... interesting phrase, that. I know you’re comparing population density and movement here and the focus in Australia is generally on the big three eastern states. That doesn’t discount the considerable movement that occurs elsewhere in the country though. For an example, I’m on a minesite 600km north of Adelaide, in the vicinity of Coober Pedy. We have workers here from all over Australia... you’d be surprised to know how many travel from NSW regularly when they’re allowed. A lot of our flights to site arrive via Port Augusta and people drive there from Broken Hill. We’re only one business endeavour in the region... when you count in the other regional activities there’s a considerable degree of interstate movement going on as a matter of course that is easily forgotten by the latte sipping leftie skivvy wearers of central Melbourne, Sydney and the education facilities of SE Queensland.

mat the expat wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 12:35 am A bit late perhaps but I wouldn't have want to have been in her position.

Plenty of Armchair Quarterbacks in the press

Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 12:45 am

mat the expat wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 12:35 am A bit late perhaps but I wouldn't have want to have been in her position.

Plenty of Armchair Quarterbacks in the press

I guess my only concern is that this isn't ideal timing to lose the health minister. Someone is going to have to get up to speed very quickly.

In 2020 it appears we have now reached the point where only ALP politicians are held accountable for events and mistakes, and those on the conservative side of politics are given a free pass for anything that happens. I find that deeply disheartening.

Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 12:34 am Wow...

She appears to blame the Premier’s statement for her decision.

mat the expat wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 12:47 am Well, realistically, if the department is run correctly, there shouldn't be too much of a change. More chance of that in a Labor government than LNP.

mat the expat wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 1:00 am We will get spikes again once travel re-starts.

Hopefully, they will remember to listen to their experts again..

Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 12:50 am

Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 12:34 am Wow...

She appears to blame the Premier’s statement for her decision.

Yes she does. I watched the Premier's evidence yesterday in full (yes I know, I have time on my hands with school holidays) and I don't think he threw her under the bus the way the media has portrayed. He simply said that as Health Minister Mikakos was responsible for the quarantine.

The bigger issue is, no system is perfect. Even if Mikakos was responsible for quarantine, that doesn't mean that she could possibly ensure that there was no spread of infection. 700 Victorian health workers caught covid 19 in hospitals, what hope did hotel staff have? This has been a media witch-hunt from the outset and they have their first victim. I suspect that News Ltd will not tire until Dan Andrews resigns. It's weird, because as a nation Australia has done bloody well in controlling covid-19 but we are the only nation who seem to be demanding that political leaders get sacked. Imagine if the UK Health Secretary or American State Health leaders were held to the same account?

Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 2:21 am It’s easy to see the grubby fingerprints of NewsLtd all over the political scene here these days. The public have become so numb to it that general acceptance seems to be the theme. I don’t see the way out myself.

Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 4:13 am A slightly more nuanced view of events from the ABC...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-26/ ... n=abc_news

Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 4:27 am

Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 4:13 am A slightly more nuanced view of events from the ABC...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-26/ ... n=abc_news

Not a bad article. Still not sure I agree with it's underlying doctrine that any infections/deaths that occur in a global pandemic are someone's fault. This is the most contagious disease I have known in my lifetime. There will be outbreaks of infections and there will be deaths. Blaming overworked state health departments and governments, but only if they are Labor governments, doesn't seem very productive to me. Especially given how well Australian states have done compared to the rest of the world.

Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 1:12 am

mat the expat wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 1:00 am We will get spikes again once travel re-starts.

Hopefully, they will remember to listen to their experts again..

I think it is inevitable that there will be spikes in all states. This virus is so infectious, there is no way hotel staff aren't catching it and then spreading it to their own friends and families. Tbf that's what happened in Victoria. Despite what News Ltd tried to tell us, it wasn't horny security guards, or wanton back packers giving blowjobs for exit passes out of quarantine. It was hard working hotel staff who contracted the infection and then spread it to their own families.