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Response to opinion piece on COVID-19 restrictions

Mayor Steve Christou has responded to an opinion piece that has appeared in today’s Daily Telegraph in relation to COVID-19 “double standards.”
16 Sep 2020 - Mayor & Councillors

Mayor Steve Christou has responded to an opinion piece that has appeared in today’s Daily Telegraph in relation to COVID-19 “double standards.”

In the piece, Miranda Devine writes how Australians have been compliant with COVID-19 restrictions including places of worship with the implication that “everyone is treated the same.”

The comments come after NSW Health recently granted Auburn Gallipoli Mosque a special COVID-19 exemption to allow 400 worshippers to pray Friday Eid al-Adha prayers, while rejecting requests from St Mary’s Cathedral to relax the 100-person rule.

Mayor Steve Christou said the rules around COVID-19 restrictions need to be consistently applied.

“I’ve been very clear about this and I made the same point several weeks ago. We either have a pandemic, which we acknowledge and adhere to the relevant health directives for one and all or we don’t,” Mayor Christou said.

“This is just another case of double standards and highlights my original concerns. I don’t understand how NSW Health can pick and choose who is at risk and who warrants an exemption. We just have to look at what is happening in Victoria to know that it is a situation we need to avoid at all costs.

“These decisions are ultimately a space for health officials but we will all have a part to play. As for local government, we are doing our bit to keep the community safe, and communicate to residents the latest government guidance and advice.”