COVID doctor slams "irresponsible" Current Affair reporter
The Melbourne medic at the centre of a parking fine storm has slammed A Current Affair, saying a producer “turned up” at her door, breaking stage 4 restrictions.
Dr Katarina Arandjelovic went viral yesterday after she shared a photo of a $99 parking fine she received after working “56 hours over four days” caring for “some of our state’s sickest patients”.
Dr Arandjelovic who works in the intensive at The Royal Melbourne Hospital urged the City of Melbourne and Lord Mayor Sally Capp to do better as she revealed dozens of healthcare workers missed out on the council’s initial round of free parking permits.
Her post garnered plenty of attention with angry Aussies across the country criticising those in charge.
The City of Melbourne later confirmed the fine had been revoked, and announced from this Friday it would provide up to 5000 additional temporary parking permits to frontline workers responding to COVID-19.
But the medical professional took to Twitter recently to call out A Current Affair producer Luke Mortimer, who she claimed invaded her privacy and broke lockdown rules in an attempt to score an interview.
She says she made a decision to not speak to any journalists after Mortimer found her address, but issued praise to Australian media for covering the story respectfully.
“My decision not to talk to journalists was tipped when Luke Mortimer from @ACurrentAffair9 turned up at my door – not outside my building – in the internal corridor of my building. No warning, no invitation. How my address was known remains a mystery,” Dr Arandjelovic tweeted alongside a photo of Mr Mortimer’s business card.
“This is in breach of the 5km restriction, and is broadly irresponsible. I did not invite Luke inside. Further, many women and men are petrified of unexpected visitors in the setting of domestic violence. It is just not on – and very disappointing from @Channel9.
“I must say thank you to all the media outlets that got in touch. I am a huge fan and friend of the media, and grateful for the endless advocacy for healthcare worker safety in this pandemic. I was grateful many were keen to cover this minor story – you all do awesome work.”
Dr Arandjelovic told news.com.au “we all need to follow the rules so that we may keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our community safe” during the public health crisis.
Journalism is considered an essential job in Victoria and those working in media are allowed to travel outside the 5km radius.