Federal Liberal MP linked to student campaign to end the lockdown – Sydney Morning Herald

The Sydney University Liberal Club is campaigning against the citys lockdown, directly contradicting Prime Minister Scott Morrisons edict that there is no alternative to the lockdown in NSW to get this under control.

The Club owns http://www.livewiththevirus.com.au, a website that is running a petition that has collected more than 11,000 signatures against the state governments disproportionate COVID-19 response and its measures. There is also a related social media channel.

One of the most senior members of the club, vice president of policy Abby Donaldson, is also an electorate officer for federal MP Jason Falinski.

Mr Falinski has argued publicly that his Sydney northern beaches electorate of Mackellar should be eased out of lockdown because of its relatively few cases compared to the citys south-west and west.

The MP has stated lockdowns should be limited to specific local government areas and that where it is safe to ease restrictions, in certain LGAs such as his own, this should occur.

Mr Falinski is one of a number of Liberal MPs who have advocated for a more learn to live with the virus approach to COVID-19, much as http://www.livewiththevirus.com.au advocates, particularly as vaccination rates rise. However, this view is at odds with national cabinets strong endorsement of short, sharp lockdowns to contain the Delta variant.

The NSW government has not implemented proposals such as these in full - though some local government areas are subject to stricter lockdowns - and it has flagged that some LGAs could see restrictions eased sooner than others in the future.

Liberal MPs Tim Wilson and Jason Falinski. Credit:Jason Falinski

The website states lockdowns should only be a last resort and that while a zero-transmission strategy might reduce COVID transmission, the drastic measures are not without cost. Politicians, riding the easy wave of popular opinion, want us to ignore that.

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Federal Liberal MP linked to student campaign to end the lockdown - Sydney Morning Herald