Pin-up leader in a pandemic
THE state’s top medical officer, Dr Jeannette Young is a shoo-in for Queenslander of the Year.
The mail out of George Street is that Dr Young’s precise and unwavering advice and direction on the COVID-19 pandemic has been the major reason that Queensland is now Australia’s pin-up state in its coronavirus response.
Health Minister Steven Miles has made it clear that the Labor government follows Dr Young’s advice “to the letter’’, often copping criticism for her hard stance on the borders.
In fact, Dr Young’s zero-tolerance approach to lockdowns and border restrictions might not have won her any fans in the tourism industry, but she is being hailed a hero for keeping Queenslanders safe during this most dangerous of times.
The LNP say she’s the most powerful woman in the state. Certainly, she’s become the public face of Queensland’s successful COVID-19-fighting strategy.
My mail is that she played a crucial role in convincing 3000 refugee protesters not to march across the Story Bridge at the weekend.
She told protesters on Friday: “Please do not go and protest this weekend. It is critical because it’ll be a tough decision to make on Monday if we’ve seen large breaches of those Chief Health Officer directions. Then I’ll have to take that into consideration about the advice I give the community. We can’t relax yet.’’
Clear, sage messaging at a time when people are justifiably worried and hesitant after the Victorian second wave.
But if you think these ratbags won’t ignore advice next weekend, think again.
They’ve already indicated they’re planning a fresh protest.
As Victorians slowly but surely lose their minds during a second, more stringent coronavirus lockdown, protesters in Brisbane are intent on playing Russian roulette with the lives of other Queenslanders.
As Mr Miles said last week, this is not about selflessly standing up for refugees — it’s downright selfish.
Words don’t adequately describe the madness that goes with a protest in the middle of a global pandemic, that at last count had killed close to 750,000 people.
Even former deputy premier, Jackie Trad, a Left-wing Labor warrior trying to hang on to a seat that has great sympathy for refugees, believes the protesters have taken things too far. While empathising with their plight, she told constituents that the actions of a few could impact on so many.
“A large-scale outbreak (in Queensland) would destroy lives and devastate our community,’’ she said.
“We are in the midst of an economic crisis that will only get worse if we saw a second wave of COVID-19 here in Brisbane. People are losing their jobs and small business is already under so much pressure.’’
It must be terribly frustrating for Labor to see mass protests at a time when the government has reintroduced a border ban on NSW.
One of the reasons that Queensland has handled the coronavirus crisis so well is the decentralised nature of our health services.
Under Lawrence Springborg, as Health Minister in the Newman government, the LNP took the bold and courageous step of returning local hospital boards.
Unlike Victoria, it has worked and their ability to be nimble and make decisions based on what is best for a local community has been a big factor in the successful — to date — Queensland response.
DR YOUNG PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CONVINCING 3000 REFUGEE PROTESTERS NOT TO MARCH ACROSS THE STORY BRIDGE AT THE WEEKEND