Entertainment
Russell Brand rips into ‘terrifying’ Australian pandemic laws: ‘This could become the world’s problem’
Russell Brand has hit out at ‘draconian’ restrictions imposed on the Australian public amid the Covid pandemic, standing with Aussies’ right to protest and branding the country’s quarantine facilities ‘internment camps’.
The comedian took to his YouTube on Sunday night to share a lengthy set of thoughts on Australia’s response to the Covid crisis, which has drawn criticism internationally throughout the pandemic after it closed its borders, leaving tens of thousands of its citizens stranded overseas until recently when borders re-opened for the first time in 18 months.
Russell shared his concern that civil liberties were being infringed upon and claimed ‘you can’t move a muscle’ in the country, while also branding the pandemic powers given to police as ‘terrifying’.
Amid new pandemic rules coming into force in the country this month – which will enforce orders such as lockdowns, mask-wearing, vaccination mandates, and quarantine – civil rights and law groups have sought to formalise an Australian charter of human rights to keep such powers in check, as protest numbers continue to grow.
In response to Victoria premier Dan Andrews’ new legislation, Russell stressed while the issue was ‘complex’ he felt it was difficult ‘not to feel a sense of justice stirred when you’re watching what is happening in Australia’.
The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill passed 20 votes to 18 and will come into effect from December 16, when a current state of emergency expires for the state.
Borders only re-opened recently after 18 months (Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images)
Under it, the premier and health minister (an unelected official) will have the power to declare a pandemic, for an unlimited period of time even if there are no cases of a virus, with fines up to $21,909 for people and $454,350 for businesses who break the rules.
When it comes to protesting, the bill states the Government can discriminate based on ‘presence in a pandemic management area; participation at an event; an activity they have undertaken; their characteristics, attributes or circumstances’.
In response, the actor said: ‘Limitless power no clear boundaries and the ability to detain – that is terrifying,’ before he added: ‘You’re confronting something that sounds very unusual and fearful. This is not just Australia’s problem this could become the world’s problem’.
The comedian shared his fear amid the rules (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Sharing various news articles and experiences of people in Australia, Russell quoted Harley Hodgson who stayed at the camp for 14 days quarantine, via The Grayzone: ‘You feel like you’re in prison. Like you’ve done something wrong. It’s inhumane what they’re doing.’
Russell went on to brand the rules as ‘divisive’ but wanted to look at them via a ‘lens of human liberty. freedom and democracy’.
He said: ‘I suppose that the argument is that the coronavirus is so lethal that any measure necessary to protect human life must be taken.
‘Some people would contest that brings to the forefront question about liberty, potential hypocrisy where we are not so concerned about this in other areas, and of the qualitative aspects of life.’
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The comedian went on, citing other rules brought in amid the pandemic: ‘Surely there should be some curtailment, some statute of limitations on how long these restrictions last, how they are enacted, whether they can they be revoked.
‘Playgrounds closed, increased policing, large fines, curfews, restrictions on freedom of movement, being stopped and questioned by police.’
He went on to ask, in regards to the limitations: ‘Is there any situation you wouldn’t consider that a problem?’
Despite Russell’s criticisms, the strict rules did keep the spread of Covid to a minimum compared to other countries, with only 2072 deaths since the pandemic began.
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