TV presenter Grant Denyer has been left outraged by panic-buying Sydneysiders travelling to regional cities ‘by the busload’ to stock up on food and supplies.
The Dancing with the Stars host, 42, claims to have witnessed a gang of coronavirus preppers ‘raiding’ supermarkets in his hometown of Bathurst, 200km west of Sydney.
The same group of hoarders apparently targeted two other central west NSW cities, Orange and Lithgow, before returning to Sydney.
Shocking: TV presenter Grant Denyer (pictured) has been left outraged by panic-buying Sydneysiders travelling to regional cities ‘by the busload’ to stock up on food and supplies
Grant wrote on Instagram on Wednesday: ‘This is crazy. We live in Bathurst and we had two busloads of people from Sydney storm the town and raid our three supermarkets. Which were already depleted.
‘They also hit Orange and Lithgow. Geez guys, chill. If we’re patient, there’s plenty for everyone. We have enough food supplies in Australia.
‘You don’t need to buy for two years, just a couple of weeks. Let’s get through this together, with patience, kindness and resilience.’
Vultures: The Dancing with the Stars host, 42, claims to have witnessed a gang of coronavirus preppers ‘raiding’ supermarkets in his hometown of Bathurst. Pictured with Amanda Keller
Grant lives in Bathurst with his wife, Chezzi, and daughters, Scout and Sailor. He commutes to Melbourne on Sundays to film Dancing with the Stars.
The future of DWTS is looking uncertain, however, after contestant Christian Wilkins was tested for COVID-19 as a precaution following his father Richard’s diagnosis.
Producers had already banned members of the public from the audience, meaning the dancers performed to an empty studio on March 15.
Family life: Grant lives in Bathurst with his wife, Chezzi, and daughters, Scout and Sailor. He commutes to Melbourne on Sundays to film Dancing with the Stars
Panic buying: Grant was inspired to share his story after reading a Daily Mail Australia article about city residents draining regional Victorian towns of resources
While on his flight home last week, Grant wrote on Instagram: ‘Bye bye, Melbourne. It was magnificent filming in the home of @dancingon10. I hope I get to return again next week. Although who really knows what’s going to happen?’
Grant was inspired to share his story after reading a Daily Mail Australia article about city residents draining regional Victorian towns of resources.
Residents from Kilmore, Traralgon, Wallan and Ararat slammed city ‘vultures’ for coming in by the ‘busload’ and emptying grocery store shelves.
Nervous shoppers were believed to be coming in from Melbourne and targeting stores for items that had sold out in the city.
Victorian crisis: It comes after residents from Kilmore, Traralgon, Wallan and Ararat slammed city ‘vultures’ for coming in by the ‘busload’ and emptying grocery store shelves. Pictured: General view outside a Woolworths in Sunbury, Victoria, as people wait outside on Tuesday
Hoarding: Supermarket giants including Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have been forced to implement buying restrictions on certain items as customers have been stockpiling on toilet paper, hand sanitiser and pantry items in fear of a lockdown
Supermarket giants including Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have been forced to implement buying restrictions on certain items as customers have been stockpiling on toilet paper, hand sanitiser and pantry items in fear of a lockdown.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison bluntly told Australians to ‘stop hoarding’ as he outlined the government’s efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus on Wednesday.
‘Stop hoarding,’ he said. ‘I can’t be more blunt about it. Stop it. It is not sensible, it is not helpful and it has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis.’
Morrison also announced a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people and advised against all overseas travel – marking the first time in Australia’s history that the government has told citizens not to go to any country.
There are 568 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia as of Thursday morning.
Stern message: Prime Minister Scott Morrison bluntly told Australians to ‘stop hoarding’ as he outlined the government’s efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus on Wednesday
Pandemic: There are 568 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia as of Thursday morning