Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (14:11): My statement today relates to last week’s term 4 early childhood education directive from deputy chief health officer Allen Cheng. I was appalled to read that children at kinder will no longer be able to sing; it is that stark. While other activities are classified as optional or vary between the second and third steps, group singing and woodwind instruments are banned in all circumstances. Where is the proportionality here, the common sense, the compassion and care? There are six active cases in regional Victoria: five in the Mitchell shire and one in Geelong. Communities in Western Victoria Region are closer to South Australia—some to Adelaide itself—than to these active cases, yet our children at the lowest risk of catching and transmitting the virus will be humming happy birthday, or if they are really lucky, clapping along to a YouTube video. You can dance at a wedding down the road in South Australia, but Victorian children cannot sing at kindergarten. It is heartbreaking. Mr Scrooge has nothing on Mr Andrews. I wish this were funny, but it is really just cruel, callous and stupid. Kinders have discretion over temperature checks, yet this joyless, one-track-minded government chooses instead a blanket ban on singing. The historical parallels are alarming. But my thoughts are with the children and teachers. Just when will the Premier realise that he has crossed the line?