Gladys Berejiklian and Dr. Kerry Chant tormented amidst recent COVID-19 restrictions.

After nearly twenty months of the world being plunged deep into the coronavirus pandemic, more than 16 million Australians, in three states, or 60% of the Australian population, are currently facing one of the country’s longest lockdowns since the beginning of COVID-19’s existence.

Unsurprisingly, new stay-at-home orders and other health-related restrictions have caused anger to rage through plenty of people and businesses. As a small business, and having been in lockdown now for 8 weeks, I too have been heavily impacted, and I understand the frustration it has caused.

Nonetheless, in NSW, far too many Australians are placing perpetual blame on the two women who matter most when it comes to keeping our state safe: New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant.

Recent COVID-19 Restrictions Throughout Australia

Amidst the outbreak of COVID-19 that has consumed the country, the most recent lockdown in Sydney and neighbouring regional areas, was recently extended an additional four weeks until August 28th. Given today’s positive case numbers still growing and no sign of ‘flattening the curve’, we can expect that the lockdown will be extended beyond August.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been extending her knowledge and expertise to the state with daily COVID press conferences. As of the beginning of August, the total number of vaccines administered to local NSW residents has successfully reached 3.9 million. Gladys Berejiklian recently said she had adjusted her new goal for vaccinations to 6.5million—80 percent of NSW’s population. At the current rate of vaccines, Gladys. Berejiklian believes that goal should be accessible by the middle of November 2021, mentioning, “That’s when life looks like getting back to normal.”

Let’s not forget, that a major reason the covid daily cases are increasing, is because people do not have respect for the restrictions, or other people, and have increased the spread to others, due to their disrespect.

In the meantime, Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant urges individuals to get the vaccine as it could be the difference between hospitalisation and quick recovery, and potentially even life and death. Kerry Chant has dedicated herself to sharing straightforward facts with little concern for the public’s hostile and rather disrespectful opinions.

Although Australians may not be happy concerning the third lockdown, Kerry Chant is genuinely committed to science as she advises what is crucially necessary to stop the spread, including locals staying at home and even avoiding conversation with others altogether. Additionally, she has been relentless to let anything—even a broken pair of glasses—stand in her way of protecting the public.

Public Scrutiny: Berejiklian & Chant Face Incessant Criticism

Gladys Berejiklian and Kerry Chant stand before the press each day at 11 a.m. to share facts regarding COVID-19 trends. However, even after evidence of dedication and care for the people of our state, the two are met with hatefulness and wrath. Not only are these intelligent women berated with questions they’ve answered many times before from the press, some of whom are beyond rude, but they also face constant disrespectful and unsympathetic judgment from both the community and the keyboard warriors on social media.

In March of 2021, Gladys Berejiklian was interrogated concerning her decisions, facing allegations that they were all made to merely benefit her assumed personal relationship with MP Daryl Maguire. Aside from the public’s past scrutiny regarding Gladys Berejiklian and her “secret” relationship earlier this year, Australians in lockdown have now taken to betting on which colour jacket Gladys is likely to wear at each upcoming conference. I recently saw a Facebook post (ironically from females), who had no comment about her press conference or the seriousness of the increasing COVID cases, but rather the mass of comments was about Gladys haircut and the fact that she wore a jacket twice in two days. How sad when people are dying and livelihoods are being lost, that what Gladys is wearing is even considered.

On the other hand, Kerry Chant has faced an assortment of issues as she tries to the best of her ability to keep us all safe. The advent of COVID-19 launched her face onto the big screen, as she has been the Premier’s right-hand woman during the aggressive press briefings.

Her decisions and advice have been criticised regarding the most recent lockdown and her necessary restrictions to keep the public healthy, yet, her physical attributes and other irrelevant conductions seem to hold the public’s attention more than anything else. A simple online search leaves individuals with enough information concerning her looks and personal life, with particular disregard to her four university degrees in the health sciences.

Since apologetically using a face mask to wipe her eye, Kerry Chant has been laughable to the public—an inappropriate and insensitive attitude toward a woman so intelligent and crucial during a time like this. Not to mention, Kerry Chant faces added analysis about her physical appearance across multiple social media platforms.

From Reddit users claiming she “is looking more and more like a person in an abusive relationship” to Twitter users mocking her facial attributes with insensitive memes, the blatant irreverence is saddening. With a track record as impressive as Kerry Chant’s, it’s safe to say she’s learned, competent and knowledgeable. How unbelievable that amidst the death threats and constant abuse, her talents go unnoticed.

Let’s all remember that these people are working day and night to do their very best to protect us. They did not create the virus. You don’t need to agree with everything the government has done, and you may not like the political party, but let’s stop the personal attacks.

A Gender Slam?

As the first female premier of NSW from the liberal party, it’s merely natural to wonder whether the scrutiny falls along the lines of gender discrimination, especially considering the fact that Gladys Berejiklian and Kerry Chant are both women and public figures. Not to mention, while memes are circling mocking these women’s outfits, teeth, hair, relationships, and other physical attributes, little criticism has been directed in a similar manner toward the men of politics and health. While the world seems driven toward equality, or being seen to be improving equality, and appreciation for all, the question arises: would any man face the same material analyses? I have known Brad Hazzard for many years, (and you can see him wanting to tell the press what he is really thinking, after they ask the same question 10 times, all in an attempt to get that ‘Gotcha’ news headline moment) but I have not seen anyone commenting on his attire, the colour of his tie, or when his hair was last cut.

Although abuse toward any gender is unnecessary and, frankly, appalling, it is seemingly increased toward these women, who endure scrutiny, stress, and barrage seven days a week as they do their best to protect the health of the people in NSW.

Facing Australia’s Troubles One Press Conference at a Time

Not only do Gladys Berejiklian and Kerry Chant continue to do what is necessary to promote health and safety measures throughout the state, but they also endure the endless hostility in the form of questions, slander, and disrespect with dignity and poise. The two women emit unending patience during the daily attacks and promote health practices merely put in place to benefit the public.

These remarkable women, irrespective of what political party they represent, should be respected for their dedication and concern for the community as we are met with such difficult circumstances. Regardless of the many memes, bets, and other disrespectful comments, at a crucial time like this, both Chant and the Premier are putting their best foot forward in adjusting the people of NSW with the second wave of the unceasing pandemic.

We are fortunate to have these women and their teams, take the front lines to protect and support millions of lives. If anything, Gladys Berejiklian and Kerry Chant should be continuously celebrated, if only, for the many obituaries they’re bypassing and the burdens they’re so professionally enduring.

Frankly, in these unprecedented COVID events, I think our government officials, state and federal, have done the best they can to protect us, with no rule book to follow. I would hate to have made the decisions they have, and taken such personal abuse, for a pay grade below many of corporate leaders and TV personalities who chose to judge them. The last two years, I think myself lucky to have been in our great country, and thank those who have done their best to keep us as safe as possible.

Photo credit: The Australian