Melbourne's extreme COVID Catastrophe - misery, poverty, disease and death

Source: https://ianbrighthope.substack.com/p/melbournes-extreme-covid-catastrophe

= = = 

Two excerpts from this worthwhile article commenting on the recent interview (featured in the video) with Chief Health Officer (CHO) Brett Sutton.  

 

# Lockdowns: Coercion Masquerading as Science

When Melbourne was subjected to 262 days of lockdown—the harshest and longest in the world—the Chief Health Officer (CHO) Brett Sutton now admits “maybe we will agree as a society that we never want to do that again.” Such an admission is not courage; it is cowardly hindsight from a man who presided over the wholesale destruction of lives, livelihoods, and liberty. Families were torn apart, children were psychologically scarred, small businesses obliterated, and the elderly left to die in isolation.

# Decision-Making: “Best Guess” Governance

Sutton’s admission that decisions were made as a “best guess” should terrify Victorians. A Chief Health Officer entrusted with extraordinary powers casually admits that judgment calls, driven by panic and politics, replaced evidence and reason. When asked to account for his actions, he hides behind “legal constraints,” while families grieve and businesses lie in ruins. To claim “full responsibility” while accepting no accountability is the height of bureaucratic duplicity.

 

Australia deserves accountability. Melbourne deserves the truth. And the architects of this catastrophe—Brett Sutton and his bureaucratic accomplices—must be remembered not as protectors of health, but as perpetrators of harm.

 

Mod's Note:  Oversized text normalized to comply with forum rules.

And they wonder why people are questioning "the science" more than they did pre-Covid.

 

 

There was a lot of 'science'

behind the the syop fearmongering

totalitarian power grab

and the biological weapon rollout.

 

 

More anti-vaxer nonsense from a quack job source with a long history of spreading COVID misinformation:

 

Here's who Ian Brighthope really is:

 

--

--AI assisted

 

And just who is the World Council for Health... the private group whose Australia affiliate was led by Brighthope?:

 

"The World Council for Health is a pseudo-medical organisation dedicated to spreading misinformation to discourage COVID-19 vaccination, and promoting fake COVID-19 treatments.^[1]

 

The organization's online appearance is that of a mainstream health organization.^[2] It appears to have been formed in September 2021 and its published leadership contains people which an Australian Associated Press fact check described as "figures who have promoted unfounded conspiracy theories".^[3] The group was founded by Jennifer A. Hibberd and Tess Lawrie, an obstetrician and founder of the "BIRD Group", which erroneously promotes ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.^[4]

 

The World Council for Health is affiliated with Children's Health Defense, an antivaccine association led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.^[5]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Council_for_Health

 

 

"Overall, we rate the World Council for Health a right-biased quackery level pseudoscience and conspiracy organization based on promoting unproven and false claims regarding vaccines, Covid-19, and general health." [emphasis added]

 

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/world-council-for-health-bias/

 

 

But even with all those facts, let's be generous and see just what Brighthope's bio says on the World Council for Health Australia's website. Is he the kind of guy you want to be getting credible COVID information and analysis from?

 

Professor Ian E. Brighthope

"Professor Ian Brighthope graduated in Agricultural Science in 1965. For the next three years he was involved in teaching and research. His research interests were in the fields of agriculture and veterinary nutrition, including the nutritional health of cattle, horses, sheep, dogs, pigs and poultry. [emphasis added]

...

It was in the fields of plant and animal nutrition that Professor Brighthope became aware of the importance of optimum nutrition and the use of nutritional supplementation in animal production, the treatment of animal dysfunction and the potential of this approach in the prevention and treatment of human disease.

...

He is currently researching the therapeutic potential of medicinal cannabis, a powerful health care therapeutic of the future. ... The nutraceutical approach is now used in many centres. Additional treatments are now included, in particular the use of the very effective repurposed drugs Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

 

https://wchaustralia.substack.com/p/introducing-world-council-for-health-54c

 

And here we have Brighthope spewing his false anti-vaxer nonsense, and being called out by Australian Associated Press:

No truth in COVID vaccine-related 'turbo cancer' warning

December 23, 2024

Australian Associated Press

 

"AAP FactCheck – Social media users are spreading untrue and unsourced claims that Australian "officials" have warned billions are going to die from "turbo cancers" linked to COVID-19 vaccines.

...

The only person quoted in the article to back up the claim is Ian Brighthope⁶, an integrative medicine advocate the article [falsely] describes as "one of Australia's most renowned doctors". [my editorial comment added]

 

Professor Brighthope is featured in a video version of the report embedded in the article and is identified as a "professor of nutritional and environmental medicine" (4 minutes 55 seconds) – not a virologist or epidemiologist." [emphasis added]

 

(more)

 

https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/no-truth-in-covid-vaccine-related-turbo-cancer-warning/

 

Yeesh!!!  Major league whack job!

Just now, johng said:

There was a lot of 'science'

behind the the syop fearmongering

totalitarian power grab

and the biological weapon rollout.

 

Are you saying it was more than just to increase mail-in voting?

 

BTW, has anyone explained the "drop and roll" yet?

 

4 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

More anti-vaxer nonsense from a quack job source with a long history of spreading COVID misinformation:

 

Here's who Ian Brighthope really is:

 

--

--AI assisted

 

And just who is the World Council for Health... the private group whose Australia affiliate was led by Brighthope?:

 

"The World Council for Health is a pseudo-medical organisation dedicated to spreading misinformation to discourage COVID-19 vaccination, and promoting fake COVID-19 treatments.^[1]

 

The organization's online appearance is that of a mainstream health organization.^[2] It appears to have been formed in September 2021 and its published leadership contains people which an Australian Associated Press fact check described as "figures who have promoted unfounded conspiracy theories".^[3] The group was founded by Jennifer A. Hibberd and Tess Lawrie, an obstetrician and founder of the "BIRD Group", which erroneously promotes ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.^[4]

 

The World Council for Health is affiliated with Children's Health Defense, an antivaccine association led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.^[5]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Council_for_Health

 

But even with all those facts, let's be generous and see just what Brighthope's bio says on the World Council for Health Australia's website. Is he the kind of guy you want to be getting COVID and vaccine guidance from?

 

Professor Ian E. Brighthope

"Professor Ian Brighthope graduated in Agricultural Science in 1965. For the next three years he was involved in teaching and research. His research interests were in the fields of agriculture and veterinary nutrition, including the nutritional health of cattle, horses, sheep, dogs, pigs and poultry. [emphasis added]

...

It was in the fields of plant and animal nutrition that Professor Brighthope became aware of the importance of optimum nutrition and the use of nutritional supplementation in animal production, the treatment of animal dysfunction and the potential of this approach in the prevention and treatment of human disease.

...

He is currently researching the therapeutic potential of medicinal cannabis, a powerful health care therapeutic of the future. ... The nutraceutical approach is now used in many centres. Additional treatments are now included, in particular the use of the very effective repurposed drugs Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

 

https://wchaustralia.substack.com/p/introducing-world-council-for-health-54c

Yeesh!!!  Major league whack job!

 

Are you disputing the fact that millions of businesses were bankrupted, children lost years of development and elderly people died alone because their loved ones weren't allowed to visit?

 

 

Brighthope:

 

The Great Betrayal: Suppression of Early Treatment and Prevention

"While Victoria was locked down and masked, while children languished in isolation, early treatment options were available but deliberately ignored. Vitamins C and D, zinc, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, and other repurposed therapies were sidelined, censored, and smeared. Nutritional and preventive medicine—approaches I and others have repeatedly called for over the past 5 decades—were dismissed as quackery, despite the weight of evidence supporting their role in immune resilience and viral defence."

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

Quacks are gonna quack... The "early treatment options"Brighthope mentions above were dismissed because they were found by credible scientists, researchers and thus most governments around the world -- including the U.S., U.K., and Australia -- to have no value / effectiveness in treating the COVID disease.

 

But hey, there's nutritional supplements to be sold and worthless (for COVID) ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to be pitched to people.

3 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Brighthope:

 

The Great Betrayal: Suppression of Early Treatment and Prevention

"While Victoria was locked down and masked, while children languished in isolation, early treatment options were available but deliberately ignored. Vitamins C and D, zinc, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, and other repurposed therapies were sidelined, censored, and smeared. Nutritional and preventive medicine—approaches I and others have repeatedly called for over the past 5 decades—were dismissed as quackery, despite the weight of evidence supporting their role in immune resilience and viral defence."

 

Quacks are gonna quack... The "early treatment options"Brighthope mentions above were dismissed because they were found by credible scientists, researchers and thus most governments around the world -- including the U.S., U.K., and Australia -- to have no value / effectiveness in treating the COVID disease.

 

But hey, there's nutritional supplements to be sold and worthless (for COVID) ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to be pitched to people.

Don’t bother yourself with facts…

 

Chloroquine is a potent inhibitor of SARS coronavirus infection and spread

 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1232869/

 

35 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

 

He has probably never actually read any of the studies.

 

All hail the almighty fact-checkers!

 

 

Quote

Melbourne's extreme COVID Catastrophe - misery, poverty, disease and death

 

As for how Australia fared in the pandemic -- contrary to Brighthope's claims above -- it kept more of its citizens from dying from COVID, compared to a lot of other places around the world:

 

A proactive Covid-19 response associated with better health and economic outcomes for OECD High-Income Island Countries

September 2025

 

"We investigated high-income island nations responses to Covid-19 against key health and macroeconomic outcomes, and stringency of control measures.

•  
  Island nations with more proactive strategic responses to manage Covid-19 generally experienced better health and macroeconomic outcomes.

Results

"The top ranked country for health outcomes was NZ with the lowest cumulative excess mortality rate to the end of 2023 (20 per 100,000 population), followed by Australia and Iceland (both 137), Japan (226), Ireland (229) and the UK (390).

 

"For combined macroeconomic outcomes (changes in GDP per capita growth [2019 to 2020; 2020 to 2021] and changes in unemployment levels [2020–2023]), the countries with the best rankings were Australia, NZ and Ireland."

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827325000813

 

11 hours ago, Red Phoenix said:

Melbourne's extreme COVID Catastrophe - misery, poverty, disease and death

 

Poverty?

I'm guessing Australians received benefits during the lockdowns.

 

37 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

 

 

The jig should have been up when California lifeguards chased down and arrested those surfers.  $1,000 fine.  For violating Covid restrictions.

 

That was an SMH moment.

 

11 hours ago, johng said:

There was a lot of 'science'

behind the the syop fearmongering

totalitarian power grab

and the biological weapon rollout.

 

 

 

There's a difference between "Restrictions" and a "Totalitarian Power Grab".

 

If it was a totalitarian power grab, why were the restrictions lifted? Why didn't they just confine everyone forever and ever in their homes?

 

11 hours ago, impulse said:

The jig should have been up when California lifeguards chased down and arrested those surfers.  $1,000 fine.  For violating Covid restrictions.

 

Why should anyone be allowed to go surfing while everyone else is following the rules and confining themselves?

 

 

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Why didn't they just confine everyone forever and ever in their homes?

They can't lock everyone at home forever  some need to actually do work  to keep the lights on...once the Digital ID's and Digital currencies are fully implemented  the power grab will be complete.

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Why should anyone be allowed to go surfing while everyone else is following the rules and confining themselves?

 

Because the rules were stoopid and based on guesses.  Not science.   And political favoritism, since some businesses were allowed to continue operating while others were shut down. 

 

Remember all the politicians dining out and partying while the serfs were locked down tight? 

 

And the end result was devastating to businesses, families, and most of all, to kids.

2 hours ago, Airalee said:

Don’t bother yourself with facts…

 

Chloroquine is a potent inhibitor of SARS coronavirus infection and spread

 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1232869/

 

 

1. You're citing a study from 2005 that has nothing to do with the 2020s COVID virus and predated it by 15 years!  And, it's talking about using those medications to treat cells in petri dishes during the SARS outbreak, not PEOPLE -- which was the same misleading nonsense argument that later was used during COVID for the same meds.

 

2. Here's what WAS found during the COVID pandemic re using those medications on people against COVID:

 

--AI assist

 

Please stop with the misleading nonsense!

 

3 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

Why should anyone be allowed to go surfing while everyone else is following the rules and confining themselves?

 

 

 

Because it was a totally stupid  totalitarian restriction in the first place.

Who are the surfer's going to spread 'covid' to  while outside in the fresh air ,sunlight and getting exercise..they most certainly were not sick  or they wouldn't be out surfing would they ?

 

The persons most at risk from 'covid'  obese, elderly with other

comorbidities would not be out surfing...but they (everyone)  should have been outside in the fresh air getting sunlight and exercise.

 

Locking everyone in their homes  or in some cases quarantine camps was wrong. 

The Australian government commissioned its own independent review of the country's responses to and performance during the COVID pandemic, with the final report issued in fall 2024. And it tells a very different story than Brighthope's nonsense above:

 

 

"Despite this lack of planning, Australia fared well relative to other nations that experienced larger losses in human life, health system collapse and more severe economic downturns. Our Inquiry, which focused on the actions of the Australian Government, has concluded that this was due to a combination of factors including early and decisive leadership and the collective efforts of the general public, community organisations, businesses, essential workers and the public service. Above all, Australia’s success in responding to the pandemic was a testament to the willingness to put community interests ahead of self‑interests and to all do our bit as part of ‘Team Australia’. [emphasis added]

 

The pandemic emergency response did not last weeks or months, but for more than two years. It involved community‑wide sacrifices and health, economic and social impacts that continue to be felt almost five years after the pandemic started. Tragically, tens of thousands of Australians were directly impacted by the severe illness and loss of life. And every member of the community was impacted by the significant limits on freedom of movement, disruptions to schooling, reduced access to usual health care, separation from family and friends, or the loss of work and businesses.

 

While governments were united in their ambition to minimise the harm of the pandemic, there are lessons to be learned for the future. We have lived through the most significant global health emergency in 100 years, and have an opportunity to record what worked and what we would recommend the Australian Government does differently the next time it faces a pandemic."

 

https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/covid-19-response-inquiry-summary-report-lessons-next-crisis/introduction

 

 

11 hours ago, impulse said:

Remember all the politicians dining out and partying while the serfs were locked down tight? 

 

no, i dont actually.

do you have any non photoshopped photos with time stamps? 

 

 

It became very authoritarian after the US said to the world of secret services, 'lock down'. When did this directive go out? Between the 20th and 31st of March 2020.

 

Thousands of small businesses were ruined. Whilst McD and the big stores thrived. Why?

 

It was a giant step towards a digital currency for the west. The next step will be digital IDs. Taking land out of small private hands is ongoing. The final nail in the coffin, will be the eradication of cash completely and controlled hand outs. How is this all possible? Because the people are apathetic and ignorant. Oh look!! You have a splinter in yer finger, while yer legs are about to be chopped off.

 

People with their eyes open know this. Take a peek at BitC and gold. There is a growing awareness that cash will mean nothing soon. If it's not recognised by the government it's just bits of worthless paper.

 

The covid hoax was just a stepping stone.

Release of the Covid-19 Inquiry Report

Tuesday 29 October 2024

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP -- Prime Minister of Australia

 

"Australia was one of the most successful nations in its pandemic response, but an investigation by the independent COVID-19 Response Inquiry finds the country was not adequately prepared for a pandemic. [emphasis added]

...

The independent Inquiry says Australia went into the pandemic with stretched health and aged care systems, no clear national management plan, and deficiencies in the National Medical Stockpile.

 

The Inquiry finds the economic response to the pandemic was critical in achieving the desired public health outcomes."

 

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/release-covid-19-inquiry-report

 

As the above reviews discuss, there were areas where Australia could have done better, like every country.  Just not the nonsense Brighthope is peddling above.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

 

Why should anyone be allowed to go surfing while everyone else is following the rules and confining themselves?

 

 

Including the authorities and law enforcement.

8 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

no, i dont actually.

do you have any non photoshopped photos with time stamps? 

 

 I'll go you one better...

 

Scathing report finds Boris Johnson deliberately misled UK Parliament over 'partygate' | AP News

 

Newsom faces backlash after attending French Laundry dinner party - POLITICO

 

2 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

More anti-vaxer nonsense from a quack job source with a long history of spreading COVID misinformation:

 

The health minister at the time has come out and said lockdowns were not based on science. Victoria had the strictest and longest in the world.

Yesterdays news . Pretty sure the majority of Thai people would muzzle-up in a flash. Other countries likely not. Fairy tales have a habit of becoming reality.🙃🙃

Chief health officer, brett sutton is an abomination to humanity. His role as a witch doctor and sorcerer poisoned the minds of millions with self mutilation beliefs, leading to catastrophe in the physical world.   I consider him and his policies of poison despicable.  May he rot in hell.

I lived through it. On a personal note it was a huge pleasure to be able to work from home. Still benefit from that to this day. Bit selfish as lucky to be government worker. Couldn't go to Thailand or see my partner though. Joined Asean Now at that time.

Different governments tried different things. It's not black and white. We stopped the pandemic in it's track with some hiccups along the way - an outbreak at a Holiday Inn and other things mucked it up. It was the first thing like this for many decades and they may have gone a bit far but I think - with a lot of government support and abuse of that support - got through it somewhat successfully with a low level of casualties. 

11 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

I lived through it. On a personal note it was a huge pleasure to be able to work from home. Still benefit from that to this day. Bit selfish as lucky to be government worker. Couldn't go to Thailand or see my partner though. Joined Asean Now at that time.

Different governments tried different things. It's not black and white. We stopped the pandemic in it's track with some hiccups along the way - an outbreak at a Holiday Inn and other things mucked it up. It was the first thing like this for many decades and they may have gone a bit far but I think - with a lot of government support and abuse of that support - got through it somewhat successfully with a low level of casualties. 

Is it just me, or others also, as I know more people that were happier when the scamdemic was going on.  Like me, hoping for another 

 

Daughter liked schooling online, then working online.  Brother loved traveling during, as we did also, less crowds and much cheaper.   He literally booked stuff years in advance at scamdemic prices, if applicable to be moved, as save thousands of $$$$.  

 

Only negative for us was, took 3 years to sell our house, as no ding dong farangs here to buy.  Put it on market just before TH shut down.

7 hours ago, save the frogs said:

no, i dont actually.

You either have an extremely poor memory,are willfully ignorant  or perhaps vaccine damaged ?