Thread by @Roj_Ame

Excuse me? You cannot police people out of a pandemic. This is horrific.

https://twitter.com/pamurrell/status/1279296587202625536

Firstly, imagine how these announcements frighten people and make them feel too worried about the attention and stigma of testing positive.

Then imagine they are in workplaces where they are already being discriminated against, paid minimum wage, their workplace hasn’t provided them the necessary PPE and they have to interact with a broad range of people who also don’t respect social distancing recommendations

Going to get tested means missing out on 3 days of work. You need that money to pay for bills, to care for your family, you’re already finding it hard to make ends meet. You have to make tough calls to keep tour head above water

And if you test positive how do you tell your workplace?? Maybe you’re afraid you’re going to get fired. If that business shuts down, it’s suddenly you’re fault. it’s not like getting on welfare is easy. Sometimes it takes months to be approved, a lot of the time you’re rejected

The vic govs announcement of $1500 for people who wont be able to receive sick leave is a good stop gap solution, but it doesn’t resolve systemic issues. And it probably is unclear how one could access such a scheme. Not to mention how some bosses may use it against workers

And what if you have intergenerational care giving duties? How do you navigate that if you’re isolated from support systems? You can’t just stop caring for your loved ones?

People are having to navigate super complex circumstances, and police only makes them more wary of public health initiatives lead by governments. This isn’t building trust, it doesn’t make people safer, it just give cops an excuse to punish people

We need to make people feel safe enough to access health care, and take the necessary action to ensure their privacy and agency is respected, that if they make a mistake or don’t understand something, it wont mean being punished, fined and imprisoned.

And we actually need to be rethinking the way our economy and society functions, because this isn’t a temporary experience, we’re going to be dealing with pandemics and ecological collapse into the future. We need to make sure our societies are sustainable

I’m so angry that minoritised people continue to be treated in this violent and paternalistic way. When we know that affirming people’s agency and humanity always makes for better outcomes and build community rather than destroys it

Anyway, if you or anyone you know experience misconduct or harm by authorised officers you can make a report on covidpolicing.org.au

You can also call @FitzroyLegal on 0434 136 501 9:00 am to 5:00pm mon- fri if you receive a COVID fine

If you think these punitive measures are harmful and counterproductive:

Call/email the premier at
[e-mail]
(03) 9651 5000

And contact the Minister for Housing, Richard Wynne
[e-mail]
(03) 9415 8901

Everyone arguing quarantines work are missing the point: quarantines work. Aggressive policing doesn’t.

Anyone arguing with me that I am discouraging people from getting tested is avoiding the main point of this thread: policing does not make people safe, does not deal with the underlying issues, and makes it harder for them to access health care.

By May, "Victoria had issued fines at almost triple the rate of any other state or territory"

Did it help curb the virus? No.

theage.com.au/national/victo…

“...policing can cause harm...and the disproportionate serving of fines on those least able to afford them can be devastating. Communities need information, support & an overall approach grounded in public health policy – not punishment.” theguardian.com/australia-news…

If you want to see evidence of how community lead public health solutions (not punishment) mean better outcomes, look at the incredible leadership shown by First Nations controlled health organisations. Read here: thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/health/20… Listen here 7ampodcast.com.au/episodes/how-i…

For anyone arguing that police ≠ punishment, here are some good readings on prison abolition via @ReclaimJustice:
abolitionistfutures.com/reading-lists

"Community policing activities do not necessarily result in police being more responsive to marginal communities’ concerns...Police can use these relationships
for intelligence gathering...criminal proceedings" - @FitzroyLegal, WEstjustice, @SMLS_clc westjustice.org.au/cms_uploads/do…

If you have read this whole thread and still can't conceptualise a solution or process that does not involve police stationed inside people's homes with guns in their holsters, then that's on you.