Victoria’s socialist government in authoritarian, bordering on fascistic. It is democratically elected but unfortunately the conservative Liberal/National opposition is ineffective - any talented conservative politician in Victoria tends to set their sight on running for Federal Parliament rather than state Parliament. Labor doesn’t so much win elections in Victoria, as the coalition loses them. What the Premier is doing in repeatedly locking down the state is popular with his base so he’ll keep doing it.
I don’t like what’s happening, but I don’t believe these types of protests are appropriate either. It just takes things from one extreme to the other. Our COVID numbers here are so low that lockdowns are stupid - but that also means that gatherings like these protests are among the most likely thing to lead to a resurgence of the virus - and that isn’t something I think anybody would want.
The Premier was out of action for three months earlier this year with a broken back. While his deputy was in charge, things were running more smoothly - so a lot of this really is down to one person and his own personal authoritarian streak and paranoia. I understand why he’s paranoid - 700 or so of Australia’s approximately 900 COVID deaths are arguably his fault, based on his mistakes last year - personally I think he should resign for his own sake and everybody elses. But he’s too narcissistic to ever consider that. Especially with all of his sycophantic supporters to back him up.
gatherings like these protests are among the most likely thing to lead to a resurgence of the virus - and that isn’t something I think anybody would want.
Do you want that to happen 3 years from now and shut down everything again?
It's funny to me that your first paragraph sounded a lot like Massachusetts and the third sounded a lot like New York.
I guess there really is nothing new under the sun.