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HDPA: Why is buying a dress considered essential but butchers aren't?

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 6 Apr 2020, 3:29PM

HDPA: Why is buying a dress considered essential but butchers aren't?

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 6 Apr 2020, 3:29PM

I’m starting to feel desperate for businesses who have been told they’re not allowed to operate during this lockdown. The rules are starting to look unfair.

We’re now seeing ridiculous examples of what’s deemed essential.

Turns out a $759 dressing gown from Elle + Riley’s website is essential. You can buy sneakers online from boutique clothing store Good as Gold. You can buy hair clippers from The Market website. You can buy coffee machines from Briscoes.

How is it possible that we can buy all those things but butchers can’t sell meat?

It feels like the government and officials aren’t being fair.

They told butchers they can’t open because meat is available in supermarket, but if that’s the case, why was I able to buy shampoo and conditioner online and have it shipped to my house last week, when shampoo and conditioner is also available in supermarkets?

Same with the wine I had delivered, shouldn’t I buy that from the supermarket?

Either we’re going hard during this lockdown and we can only buy from supermarkets, or the rules need to be applied equally and fairly on all and businesses that can operate safely should operate safely.

My preference is the latter: I’d rather that all businesses that can operate safely are able to.

If you’re a bookstore owner and you can take online orders, then go to the shop, package them up and have a courier deliver them without coming into contact with anyone else, what’s the problem?

If you can run a butchery and put up Perspex glass like the supermarkets, what’s the problem?

We seem to be taking a relatively relaxed approach to this lockdown right?

There aren’t police roadblocks enforcing rules, there aren’t forced quarantines at the border, you are now allowed to drive to the park to exercise.

So if we are relatively relaxed with most things, then why are we not relaxed with businesses who can do their jobs safely, and keep the economy ticking over a little bit more?

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