Experts explain why ‘Bunnings Karen’ was wrong

THE woman who filmed herself confronting Melbourne retail workers over a Bunnings store policy around face masks claimed, in the now viral video, that her human rights were under threat.

But when it comes to maskwearing, the rights of “Bunnings Karen” are no greater than those of law-abiding citizens. The woman filmed herself telling Bunnings workers a rule stipulating shoppers must wear a mask to be allowed in was “an unlawful condition of entry”.

But National Retail Association chief executive Dominique Lamb said businesses did indeed have the right to turn people away for not wearing masks.

“It is a private premises they are able to control who comes in and comes out,” she told the Today show.

“They can’t enforce it in terms of giving a fine or anything like that. Certainly they can ask people to leave and ask people not to enter a store.

“They have the right to call the police as they have done.”

University of South Australia legal experts Professor Rick Sarre and Juliette McIntyre also noted that businesses could legally set conditions of entry.

“Bunnings Karen” used the UN Charter in her defence — which is ironic, given there are UN treaties that specifically contradict her claims.

She also berated a worker at an Australia Post centre, advising him to “update yourself on what the Department of Human Services have put on with regards to masks and who needs to wear them”.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the rule was “common sense” and “relatively simple”. He criticised conspiracy theorists, saying their views “have no basis in science or fact”.

“There are 10 families that are going to be burying someone in the next few days,” he said. “Wear a mask — it’s not too much to ask.”