Permit individual outdoor exercise near home in SA
The issue
To the Honourable the Members of the House of Assembly in Parliament Assembled
South Australia's new COVID-19 restrictions represent the strictest ever enforced in Australia, worse even than those at the height of the Victorian outbreak (1). While there is a certain and present danger of COVID-19 being spread through the Adelaide community, the harshness of the currently imposed restrictions are not, in the views of many, commensurate with the risks.
It is particularly unacceptable that as part of these draconian measures, no effort has been made to preserve the mental and emotional health of South Australians through an allowance for outdoor exercise. Moreover, the rates of alcohol use (2), substance abuse (2), domestic violence (3) and mental health deterioration have all increased alarmingly as lockdowns have become the new way of life in the West. A refusal to allow any provisions for outdoor exercise is tantamount to negligence on the part of our public service, and should be treated as a breach of their duty of care for the South Australian Public.
Moreover, it appears that our health authorities are unwilling to accept the existence of research that contradicts what they might have to say. Particularly, the fact that under their harshest restrictions and with greater case numbers, Victoria allowed outdoor exercise suggests that the risks arising from individual outdoor exercise near home could not be as great as our State authorities imagine. Further, evidence suggesting that transmission is less effective outdoors (4) and in hotter climates (5) has evidently had little bearing on these harsh decisions. This is not to mention the well established physical and mental health benefits of exercise and being outdoors. We must certainly remain vigilant and cautious of the risks faced with COVID-19; But we also deserve restrictions in line with the dangers faced by the general public.
As South Australians, we deserve and demand better than the wartime rhetoric of our politicians, who are much farther removed from the devastating effects of these impositions on the lives of our community members. These restrictions are especially harsh on those living in apartments or units with no access to a backyard. The role of government in western societies has always been to preserve the safety, rights and freedoms of it's people. Currently, they are barely managing to uphold one third of this promise. The burden of proof lies with SA Health, our Government and our Police Force, to explain why exactly they are failing implement restrictions which are fairer and more reasonable than those currently in place. The government must immediately allow limited, individual, and localised outdoor exercise for South Australians or they risk losing the trust and approval of our community.
3) https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-53014211
4) https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.04.20188417
5) https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30106-6
Victory
The issue
To the Honourable the Members of the House of Assembly in Parliament Assembled
South Australia's new COVID-19 restrictions represent the strictest ever enforced in Australia, worse even than those at the height of the Victorian outbreak (1). While there is a certain and present danger of COVID-19 being spread through the Adelaide community, the harshness of the currently imposed restrictions are not, in the views of many, commensurate with the risks.
It is particularly unacceptable that as part of these draconian measures, no effort has been made to preserve the mental and emotional health of South Australians through an allowance for outdoor exercise. Moreover, the rates of alcohol use (2), substance abuse (2), domestic violence (3) and mental health deterioration have all increased alarmingly as lockdowns have become the new way of life in the West. A refusal to allow any provisions for outdoor exercise is tantamount to negligence on the part of our public service, and should be treated as a breach of their duty of care for the South Australian Public.
Moreover, it appears that our health authorities are unwilling to accept the existence of research that contradicts what they might have to say. Particularly, the fact that under their harshest restrictions and with greater case numbers, Victoria allowed outdoor exercise suggests that the risks arising from individual outdoor exercise near home could not be as great as our State authorities imagine. Further, evidence suggesting that transmission is less effective outdoors (4) and in hotter climates (5) has evidently had little bearing on these harsh decisions. This is not to mention the well established physical and mental health benefits of exercise and being outdoors. We must certainly remain vigilant and cautious of the risks faced with COVID-19; But we also deserve restrictions in line with the dangers faced by the general public.
As South Australians, we deserve and demand better than the wartime rhetoric of our politicians, who are much farther removed from the devastating effects of these impositions on the lives of our community members. These restrictions are especially harsh on those living in apartments or units with no access to a backyard. The role of government in western societies has always been to preserve the safety, rights and freedoms of it's people. Currently, they are barely managing to uphold one third of this promise. The burden of proof lies with SA Health, our Government and our Police Force, to explain why exactly they are failing implement restrictions which are fairer and more reasonable than those currently in place. The government must immediately allow limited, individual, and localised outdoor exercise for South Australians or they risk losing the trust and approval of our community.
3) https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-53014211
4) https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.04.20188417
5) https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30106-6
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Petition created on 18 November 2020