Australian Singer Ziggy Alberts Compares Wearing A Face Mask To Living In A Dictatorship

It will be mandatory to wear a face mask in locked down parts of Victoria from Thursday this week.

The move is aimed at protecting people in coronavirus hotspots and hopefully preventing people catching and spreading the virus.

While there have been some mixed reactions to the measure, few have reached the bizarreness as Australian singer Ziggy Alberts.

Taking to Instagram, the Laps Around the Sun artist posted two stories onto his account talking about how it's detrimental to people's freedoms.

He wrote: "I'm in complete opposition of the government's decision to introduce mandatory face masks in Melbourne when all it does is strips Australians of their basic rights in what is supposed to be a free society.

"There is no way I'm going to support, endorse or encourage mandatory face masks or lockdowns in a free country. Because our country is no longer free when you can't leave the house or face fines for not wearing something over your mouth when you try to leave."

He also referenced how some members of his family escaped from communist Hungary and Nazi controlled Holland in the past, seemingly drawing comparisons between those countries and having to wear a face mask to stop a pandemic.

Ziggy was suitably rinsed on social media for his views, with many Australian artists saying it was dangerous to be using his platform to spread beliefs like that.

Ziggy took to Instagram on Monday to clarify what he said, adding: "I just told you my family history and that I don't agree in lockdowns or face masks being mandated and people being fined if they don't comply. I didn't suggest you do not wear a face mask."

But it appears Ziggy isn't the only one vocally protesting against the mandatory mask rule.

MMA fighter Vik Grujic also likened the rule to a dictatorship and says he won't be wearing a mask, even though he could be fined up to $200.

"I will never bow to a dictatorship. I'm a proud Aussie. Born free. Will die free," Grujic wrote on Twitter.

A separate tweet said: "I will not wear a mask. I will not pay a fine. I will not comply. I will not bow down to you. Whatever you're (sic) next set of demands are, I will not comply to either.

"I'm a proud Australian. Born free. Nothing will take that away from me. No virus. No dictator."

The face mask rule will apply to those in the Melbourne metro and Mitchell Shire areas and will be required for everyone above the age of 12.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. said: "That is in recognition that it's likely to work for all of those age groups. Below the age of 12, it's a consideration. We say not for toddlers - so not two years and below - but it's a consideration for all other children.

"But it is mandatory, really, from that high school age onwards."

It doesn't have to be a proper surgical face mask, as authorities say you can use a scarf or other type of face covering.

Anyone who doesn't follow the rules will cop a $200 fine when the rule comes into effect at 11:59pm on Wednesday night.

Topics: Celebrity, News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie