NEW England MP Barnaby Joyce is throwing his support behind any business that wishes to only allow entry to people wearing face masks.
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The former Deputy Prime Minister's support comes after a woman berated Bunnings and Australia Post employees in Melbourne after she was asked to wear a face mask.
Mr Joyce slammed the actions of the woman who has been dubbed 'Karen from Bunnings' on social media, saying her reasons for not wanting to wear a mask were "ridiculous".
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"People need to be reasonable and I think some people get a sense that the whole COVID-19 thing is a hoax and that is just nuts," Mr Joyce said.
"It's not a hoax, you've only got to look at people in aged-care homes and remote Indigenous communities that are being put at threat.
"You have to understand anti-vaxing is rubbish, believing COVID is a hoax is rubbish, believing man landing on the moon happened in a basement in Los Angeles is rubbish and people who carry on like that lady should be told 'well lady out you go'".
Mr Joyce said while face masks were not yet mandatory in NSW, he would support any local business that made them compulsory.
"If that's what our appropriate health authorities call for, that's what I'll do," he said.
"Obviously I wouldn't do it while out fencing or riding a horse because there's no one around me, but if I come into Tamworth and I'm close to other people, out of respect for them, I will abide by the laws.
"At this point if any businesses want to make it a requirement I understand that.
"Businesses have the right to enforce any sort of policy they like and if you don't want to follow those policies, then you can shop elsewhere."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
