Australian lawmakers went on Twitter to educate American critics of the country’s COVID-19 public health policies and pointed out how well they compare to guidelines in the U.S., where the death toll is one of the worst the world was working to prevent deaths.
Since the pandemic began, Australia has put in place tough measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including some of the longest lockdowns in the world. State and area-wide restrictions cannot be lifted until more than 80% of the local population aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated against the virus. In the United States, on the other hand, many states lifted COVID-19 measures despite low vaccination rates.
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Outspoken political commentator Candace Owens even suggested that the US military should invade Australia for turning into a “police state,” comparing the country’s government to the regimes of Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Fidel Castro Hugo Chavez.
“When do we send troops to Australia? When do we invade Australia and free an oppressed people suffering from a totalitarian regime? When are we going to spend trillions of dollars spreading democracy in Australia? ”Said the right wing expert on her Daily Wire TV show earlier this week.
Owens’ swear word is the latest condemnation of Australia’s COVID-19 measures by US Conservatives. Republican Senator Ted Cruz also criticized certain measures taken by the country. Earlier this month, anti-vaccine protesters surprisingly focused on Australia’s vaccine mandate during a protest outside the New York City consulate.
Legislators from Down Under responded to criticism on social media. Michael Gunner, Prime Minister of Australia’s Northern Territory, took to Twitter last week to reprimand Cruz’s claim that the Territory’s vaccine mandate placed people under “COVID tyranny”.
“We don’t need your lectures, thank you buddy,” Gunner tweeted on Sunday. “You don’t know anything about us. And if you oppose a life-saving vaccine, you are definitely not with Australia. “
Gunner’s response also contained a number of facts about the Northern Territory’s COVID-19 response. The language used by Cruz in his original tweet reflected Gunner: “I love Texas (go Longhorns), but when it comes to COVID, I’m glad we’re not like you.”
Cruz had previously tweeted that he stood by Australia in response to a Sky News video in which Gunner announced that workers who interact with the public must be given at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before Nov. 13 or expect to be fined $ 5,000 (approximately $ 3,750).
Mark Bailey, a Member of Parliament from Queensland, also criticized Cruz on Twitter, comparing the death toll in Texas with all of Australia. “If you had stood with us, you would have learned from us,” said Bailey. The state of Texas has recorded 68,573 COVID-19-related deaths since the pandemic began, while Australia has reported 1,590.
Mocked other social media users in Australia Owens on Twitter for criticizing local anti-epidemic measures and responded with images of themselves continuing to enjoy nature, such as pristine, largely empty beaches.
One recently Lowy Institute survey noted that the majority of Australians are confident about how their government is dealing with the pandemic.
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Reference: time.com