Coronavirus: Thread

[grarpamp]

> The Biomedical Apartheid State


"Stop Medical Apartheid!" - Police Passive As Huge Crowd Protests
Australia's Draconian Pandemic Powers Bill

https://7news.com.au/news/vic/kill-the-bill-thousands-of-protesters-take-to-melbourne-streets-over-covid-19-pandemic-laws-c-4372996
https://twitter.com/johnculvenor/status/1454279774596067335
https://twitter.com/SouthwickMP/status/1452596162863636483
https://www.rt.com/news/536470-melbourne-lockdown-world-record/
https://twitter.com/_evelynrae/status/1454271472973664257
https://www.rt.com/news/536435-melbourne-vaccine-protesters-arrested/
https://twitter.com/RitaPanahi/status/1454323937836298246

Thousands of protesters gathered in Melbourne's CBD on Saturday
calling on Premier Daniel Andrews to resign as they rallied against
the Victorian government's new pandemic legislation.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media. Credit: JAMES
ROSS/AAPIMAGE

Chants erupting from the crowd included: “End the mandates,” “Stop
medical apartheid,” and “We need Bill of Rights!”

“Kill the bill,” protesters chanted.

    #Melbourneprotest pic.twitter.com/JhZReQq8kn
    — JFC, John F Culvenor, Fully Natural Human (non-GM)
(@johnculvenor) October 30, 2021

The declaration will give the health minister “broad powers to make
pandemic orders” on the chief health officer’s advice and will replace
the current state of emergency, which expires on December 15.

A similar process is in place in NSW and New Zealand, where the health
minister is directly accountable to parliament.

As 7News reports, the laws also introduce safeguards around protecting
contact tracing and QR code information, while an aggravated offence
will be created to “deter ... the most egregious pandemic-related
behaviors”.

    This is scary stuff.

    Nobody should have these powers to target people based on their
‘characteristics, attributes or circumstances’ #Springst
https://t.co/4txwsfP80W
    — David Southwick MP (@SouthwickMP) October 25, 2021

Mr Andrews has also warned unvaccinated Victorians will be subject to
COVID-19 restrictions "well into 2022".

People found guilty of "intentionally and recklessly" breaching public
health orders would also face two years in jail or a $90,500 fine and
businesses could be fined up to $452,500.

While Melbourne was placed under lockdown on six separate occasions
beginning in March 2020, spending nearly nine months under
stay-at-home orders cumulatively, the city’s restrictions were again
eased on Friday, with travel bans and outdoor mask mandates lifted,
among other things. Victoria as a whole, however, remains under some
Covid-19 measures, including 75% capacity rules at indoor
entertainment venues and limits on outdoor gatherings to just 30
people.

Authorised workers must be fully vaccinated by November 26.

The vaccine mandate has since been extended to social settings in
Victoria, with harsh restrictions stopping the unvaccinated from
entering restaurants, bars and events.

“This is critically important to keep case numbers down,” Mr Andrews said.

“This is not about stopping people going to work, it’s about making
sure we can open up.

“It’s about making sure people can go to work, that they can be safe,
and that we can defend and deliver our road map for opening.”

    Melbourne protest - today. #Melbourneprotest pic.twitter.com/GEfJluyInI
    — Evelyn Rae (@_evelynrae) October 30, 2021

Protesters were met with a heavy police presence "to ensure the safety
of the community and no breaches of the peace," but interestingly -
for now - in contrast to previous protests in the city, despite breach
the law limiting outdoor gatherings to just 30 people, police did not
appear to have a forceful presence and it is unclear if any arrests
were made.

    Just heard this protest described as “hundreds of people” on
Melbourne radio.🧐 Amazing how peaceful a protest can be when police
don’t go charging in with pepperball rounds.
pic.twitter.com/8jnlOaRaqO
    — Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) October 30, 2021