Do as I say not as I do a Covid minefield
MAGIC Millions regarding Covid imaging was a trainwreck for the State Government and the Opposition. Photos without face masks. How do you do serious health messaging after that?
Now Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Racing Minister Grace Grace would have copped criticism for “boycotting the Coast” if they failed to drive down the M1 to the event.
Opposition racing spokesperson Tim Mander and Surfers Paradise MP JohnPaul Langbroek would be accused of snubbing the tourism and racing industry if they turned down corporate invites. The event generated almost $39 million, providing 31,500 bednights. Our politicians need to talk it up — it’s just how you package those media moments.
Most of us are isolating, working from home. Some parents also caring for children because childcare centres are closed.
Our teachers are back at work trying to plan curriculum timelines which change weekly.
Our police are working back-toback shifts. Some nurses don’t even have enough protective gear.
Our GPs and specialists are grateful when we agree to video conferencing. They apologise about not being able to get Covid tests or more booster vaccines. This is our reality.
Liberal Democrats leader Campbell Newman was quick to seize upon the Premier’s messaging saying she told Queenslanders on January 7 to “stay at home for the next six weeks”.
He maintains that was “ridiculous scaremongering”. He argued that clearly the Premier’s attendance at Magic Millions showed “she didn’t believe it either”.
On his Facebook page, the personal attacks on the Premier — some were bruising.
But one bloke got the tone right. “The whole thing’s a mess now totally, no one knows what to believe,” he wrote.
Coast business operator Paula Brand on her Facebook page talked up “double standards”.
Restaurant operators were being “arrested for not following Covid rules”. “Why is there one rule for some and not for others,” she wrote.
Your columnist asked around contacts. Some pollies decided not to attend Magic Millions.
The invites to Mayor Tom Tate and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates were left on their desks. Councillor Gates loves racing but has not ventured out much from her home.
On her Facebook page this week she reminded residents entering the Upper Coomera Centre, including the coffee shop and pool, to wear a mask. Many were arriving without them.
Only one staffer was behind the front desk, which had to be closed for breaks and lunch.
“We have today had to limit the Customer Service hours due to staff shortages and we want to be sure the remaining staff are safe in the workplace,” Cr Gates wrote.
So here is the real challenge for our political leaders. They have to promote big bubbly ticket sporting events, then next day deliver a sobering public health message for us to stay home or if going to a community centre wear a mask.
A champagne flute in hand one day and briefing note the next day on Covid deaths and new list of restrictions – you can bet it doesn’t work with most punters.
Video released earlier this week showed Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon wearing a hard hat and mask checking work construction work on the M1.
It’s a strong hard labour message, the sort of imaging Labor needs to embrace to be any chance of short odds to win the next election.