COVID Mandates In Victoria, Australia, Have Unexpected Consequences: With a few brave fighters leading the charge against the state’s draconian measures, there are signs that people will, finally, push back

American Thinker ^ | 11/18/2021 | Craig Edwards

[SeekAndFind]

If Lockdowns were an Olympic sport, Victoria, Australia would be hard to beat. It’s been described as the most locked-down place in the world under COVID-19. Sadly, it’s also become the location where a once free society now targets civil liberties. A perfect example is Monica Smit, of Reignite Democracy Australia, who served 22 days in jail in solitary confinement after being charged with incitement. Her crime? Organizing a protest against lockdowns.

In the United States, our Constitution recognizes our inherent rights to free speech, a free press, and peaceable assembling to air grievances towards our government. So, it comes as a shock when a freedom-loving country like Australia starts arresting those who want to express their grievances about lockdowns through peaceable assembly.

You might be wondering when protesting within a free society become illegal. This is the part where it starts to sound like poorly written draconian fan fiction (which, sadly, it’s not).

First and foremost, nowhere in the Australian Constitution is any promise or guarantee made regarding freedom of speech or protected expressions. Apart from Australian High Court rulings which are somewhat supportive of freedoms, you must look at the state level for signs of individual rights.

The State of Victoria has Section 15 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006, which provides individual freedoms that are similar to the First Amendment. However, it also has a ‘clause to pause’ freedoms on Section 15(3):

Special duties and responsibilities are attached to the right of freedom of expression and the right may be subject to lawful restrictions reasonably necessary.

That leads to Section 198 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (“The Public Health Act”). Under the Public Health Act, the Chief Health Officer (“CHO”) has emergency powers to implement directives addressing any significant health crisis.

[rktman]

Meanwhile in Austria (which is NOT the same as Australia)..... “Dokumente bitte!”

[\/\/ayne]

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Meanwhile in Austria (which is NOT the same as Australia)..... “Dokumente bitte!”

The strange thing in Austria is they are forcibly quarantining the unvaccinated BUT -- they recognize the NATURAL IMMUNITY of those who have had Covid and survived. So those vaccinated and unvaccinated with natural immunity are NOT quarantined.

At least in this regard, Austria is closer to the science than the USA and the Biden Administration.

[katana]

Once, in my mid-20's during my first visit to Australia, I was encouraged by an Australian acquaintance to emigrate. "Americans are like sharks in a pool of fish down here." I figured out that they are also resented by the "Lucky Country" - "She's all good, Mate" less than energetic natives nearly as much as overbearing Pommy Bastards from England. So I demurred.

I'm damned glad now that I resisted the temptation to go from Citizen to Subject.

[Osage Orange]

Except the VAXXED can still get the 19...and give it to others.

[rktman]

It’s crazy out there.

[kaktuskid]

Australia has a weak federal government, which is why the various states do their own thing as per COVID

[I want the USA back]

Solitary confinement seems to be the weapon of choice of radical nazis when they seek to punish normal humans for existing.

The Jan 6 crowd was thrown into solitary without a trial, an action that was illegal, unconstitutional, and criminal.

They treat murderers better than that.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Australia has a weak federal government

You can say that again. The Prime Minister Scott Morrison himself has publicly stated that he is against a national vaccine mandate, but he can’t do a damn thing about the policies of the states of Victoria and New South Wales.