‘I’ve done all of Brighton,’ a Melbourne woman declared in comments that have since gone viral.
Camera Icon‘I’ve done all of Brighton,’ a Melbourne woman declared in comments that have since gone viral. Credit: Supplied

‘Bored is better than intensive care’: Dan Andrews’ dig at ‘Karen from Brighton’

Lane SaintyNCA NewsWire

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has made a subtle dig at a Melbourne woman who shot to social media fame after a viral video.

The woman appeared in a Nine News broadcast this week, interviewed about new coronavirus restrictions banning unreasonable travel for exercise as she walked with a friend at The Tan in Melbourne’s CBD.

“Well, you get sick of walking the same streets,” she said. “You know, I’ve done all of Brighton.”

More than 300,000 people have viewed the clip, attached to a viral tweet captioned “Actually just spat my f**king beer”. The woman was widely criticised and given the mocking nickname “Karen from Brighton”.

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On Saturday, as Victoria notched up a further 217 confirmed cases of COVID-19, Mr Andrews issued a “very clear message” to the people of his state.

‘Being bored is much better than being in intensive care,’ Daniel Andrews said on Saturday in a swipe at a Melbourne woman who said she was sick of walking in the same area.
Camera Icon‘Being bored is much better than being in intensive care,’ Daniel Andrews said on Saturday in a swipe at a Melbourne woman who said she was sick of walking in the same area. Credit: News Corp Australia

“I’ve got a very clear message to every single Victorian, particularly some of those featured in social media: whether you’re in Broadmeadows or Brighton, stay at home means stay at home,” he said.

“And if walking your local streets is boring, well, being bored is much better than being in intensive care. That’s my clear message.”

Brighton MP James Newbury took offence at the comment, accusing Mr Andrews of “neglecting” Brighton and now sneering at it.

Under Victoria’s lockdown, Melburnians and residents of the Mitchell shire are able to leave their homes for food, exercise, work or education and caregiving responsibilities, but cannot travel unreasonably for these activities.