Australian musician Ziggy Alberts has copped a wave of backlash after claiming Melbourne’s mandatory mask rule violates basic human freedoms.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday that as of 11.59pm Wednesday, those living in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will be required to wear a mask or other appropriate face-covering or risk a $200 fine.
Residents within these areas are already living under stage three lockdown restrictions, meaning they are only able to leave home for one of four reasons: food, exercise, work or education and caregiving.
Responding to the Premier’s latest announcement in an Instagram Story to his more than 200,000 followers, Alberts declared he was in “complete opposition” to mask-wearing – before seemingly comparing the mandatory rule to Nazism.
“I just want to say my heart is with you Victoria,” Alberts wrote.
“I’m in complete opposition of the government’s decision to introduce mandated face masks in Melbourne when all it does is strips Australians of their basic rights in what is supposed to be a free society.”
“My mother and her family escaped communism in Hungary as a child to come to Australia.
“My great grandfather hid a Jewish family and an American pilot during Nazi rule in Holland and was killed for doing so. For trying to keep innocent people safe.
“There is no way I’m going to support, endorse or encourage mandatory face masks or lockdowns in a free country.”
Read the article by Bronte Coy in the Herald Sun.