Confirmation that Victoria Police members have been tasked with patrolling playgrounds to enforce COVID-19 restrictions is a cruel and callous overstep from the Andrews Labor Government.
Daniel Andrews heartless decision to close playgrounds has robbed children of the last remaining outlet of joy during lockdown and will significantly damage the mental wellbeing of countless families across Melbourne.
Not one member of Victoria Police signed up to keep kids off playgrounds. Yet Daniel Andrews latest decision places frontline officers in an impossible position and risks furthering eroding community confidence in Victoria Police.
Daniel Andrew is guilty of having no plan to keep Victoria open and COVID safe – just a plan for more day-to-day dictums that leave families and business paying the price for his own mistakes.
The Victorian Liberal Nationals are calling on the Andrews Government to urgently overturn its cruel and illogical playground ban or release the Health advice that says playgrounds are unsafe.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Police & Crime Prevention, David Southwick:
“No child should be met by a police officer for playing on a playground.”
“The answer isn’t more enforcement, but backing parents with the right health messaging to make sensible decisions in public places for their kids.
“Daniel Andrews has no plan to get our community through his latest lockdown, only a plan to punish every child for the actions of others.”