Axe the curfew to end the big divide in Greater Sydney

Two South Western Sydney councillors have pounced on the admission from NSW deputy premier John Barilaro that a curfew on LGAs of concern was put in place due to pressure from the media.

Nathan Hagarty and Charishma Kaliyanda, pictured, have described the Barilaro comments as “extraordinary’’ and are calling for an end to the curfew imposed only in South Western and Western Sydney localities.

The two Liverpool councillors are also demanding for the return to consistent lockdown restrictions across the entire Greater Sydney region.

“This is an extraordinary admission from the deputy premier. He has openly admitted that the curfew was only put in place due to media pressure. It’s clear, the curfew must end and must end now,’’ says Cr Hagarty.

“Day after day, we have the premier telling us the government acts on the health advice. We now have proof, thanks to her deputy, that the government also acts on media pressure.

“The government must now come clean and tell the people what other restrictions have been inflicted on us that weren’t based on health advice.’’

The two councillors say they have been calling for consistent restrictions across Sydney for weeks. Both signed an open letter to the premier and Cr Hagarty moved a motion at the August council meeting, requesting one set of restrictions for the Greater Sydney region.

“It’s now been well over two months since Sydney was divided in two. As the deputy premier has admitted, the curfew doesn’t work and only serves to hurt the wellbeing of our community,’’ Cr Hagarty said.

“We’ve written letters, requested meetings and passed motions at council with cross party support, asking the premier to take on board the long term effects these restrictions are having on our area.

“Time and time again, the elected representatives and the community have been ignored. It seems this state is being run in the interests of the business lobby and the media, not its citizens.’’

Councillor Kaliyanda backed the call and pushed back at attempts by some government MPs to further divide Sydney.

“Every one of us wants to see an end to this outbreak. We all want to put the pandemic behind us,’’ she said.

“An end to the curfew and a single set of concise, easy to follow public health orders for Sydney will make it so much easier for people to follow and also reunite our divided city.’’