Network 10’s political editor, Peter van Onselen, has roasted victorian politicians who complain about the coronavirus restrictions causing them to self-isolate before entering federal parliament.
Van Onselen was one of this morning’s panellists on Insiders. He has not held back.
“Can I just say this – cry me a river to all of the Victorian MPs who have to self-isolate,” he told host David Speers.
“I have never heard so much whingeing in all my life. Text messages and phone calls. There’s only 12 of them out of 50 MPs. I’m not saying it’s not hard, I’m not saying that I’d want to do it.”
“They’ll get travel allowance and all of that,” Speers interjected.
“Health workers are doing it,” van Onselen continued.
“They (the politicians) expect the rest of the country to do it. And I have never heard so much b****ing and moaning, quite frankly, about having to do what they expect everybody else to do, when they’re going to be paid to do it.
“I mean, get over it.”
.@vanOnselenP on the Victorian federal MPs having to self-isolate before Parliament.
"Cry me a river to all of the Victorian MPs who have to self-isolate … They expect the rest of country to do it and I have never heard so much bitching and moaning "#insiders #auspol pic.twitter.com/MLBTlZnbbm
— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) August 9, 2020
“In defence of some of them, they do have young kids and it’s an anxious time in Melbourne,” Speers pointed out.
“Same as everyone else,” said van Onselen.
“But to leave your family for a month in that situation, where they’re not allowed to leave their house with curfews, it’s not easy,” said Speers.
“I know there’s no sympathy
Van Onselen’s comments were broadly praised on social media, with users echoing his sentiments.
“Quarantining in a flash hotel, in order to ensure democratic processes, is a privilege not a hardship,” one user tweeted.
Another added: “Congratulations @vanOnselenP for speaking the sentiment of most Australians.”
Van Onselen’s critical comments come after it was revealed that Victorian MPs will be forced to separate themselves for a fortnight to attend the upcoming federal parliamentary sitting, which will begin on August 24.