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Scott Morrison Wants People Attending Black Lives Matter Protests To Be Arrested

Scott Morrison Wants People Attending Black Lives Matter Protests To Be Arrested

"It’s about political people pushing a whole lot of other barrows now, and it puts others lives and livelihoods at risk."

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Australia's Prime Minister has issued a call for people not to attend Black Lives Matter protests planned over the next few days.

Tens of thousands of people rallied over the Long Weekend, causing many to worry about the health implications of that many people gathering in close proximity.

While the events were permitted to go ahead, authorities are warning people that it shouldn't be repeated.

Scott Morrison upped the ante by saying people who do attend the demonstrations should be arrested and charged by police.

"I really do think they should [be charged]," Mr Morrison told Melbourne's 3AW radio.

PA

"The issues of last weekend were very difficult, but I think people carrying it on now, it's not about that. It's about political people pushing a whole lot of other barrows now, and it puts others lives and livelihoods at risk.

"Millions of quiet Australians have done the right thing and they didn't seem to be that concerned about their health, or their businesses, or their jobs.

"People who would turn up to a rally this weekend would be showing great disrespect to their neighbours. It's a free country and we have our liberties but the price of that liberty is exercising it responsibly."

It comes after a protestor who attended the Melbourne rally last Saturday (June 6) tested positive for the coronavirus.

PA

Health officials don't believe the man in his 30s got infected at the protest as he wouldn't be showing symptoms this early. It's believed he was asymptomatic at the rally and was wearing a face mask.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said: "I hope that anyone who has attended that [protest], and indeed across Victoria, who develop symptoms that are compatible with coronavirus really need to isolate themselves, get tested, get that result back and become well before they get out and about again."

Contact tracing is being undertaken to see if anyone he interacted with for more than 15 minutes can get tested immediately.

The man was one of seven new infections in Victoria.

PA

Anyone who attended one of those rallies has been urged to self-isolate for two weeks just in case.

Australian Medical Association chief Dr Tony Bartone said: "We need to be very clear - we are still very much in the early phase of dealing with COVID-19. Mass gatherings are certainly the last gatherings on the list [of restrictions] and it was clearly against the advice of all the health authorities.

"[The] only safe way...of minimising any risk of it [coronavirus] spreading over the next 14 days is to ensure that we keep our distance from the rest of the community."

Pictures show the vast majority of people who attended the protest demonstrations in capital cities across the country wore face masks to avoid spreading or catching the virus.

However, officials say we won't know whether the mass gatherings resulted in more coronavirus cases for a few weeks.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Australia