“Free Regional Victoria Now”

Member for Ripon, Louise Staley, is calling on the Premier to commit to Regional Victoria moving to the “Last Step” immediately for those Local Government Areas that have been COVID-free for 14 days.

“Regional Victoria has met the Premier’s trigger point for the next easing of restrictions and must get the reward for their hard work rather than be shackled to his contact tracing failures in Melbourne,” said Ms Staley

“Whether it’s letting people go to church or letting children restart dance and gymnastics lessons, and now regional Victoria has made Daniel Andrews’s trigger point these activities must be allowed again.”

Regional Victoria currently has 47 out of 48 Local Government Areas that have not had a new case for 14 days. 

Many regional Local Government Areas have not had a new case for many weeks, and three LGAs – including Buloke Shire – have never had a COVID case. Only Mitchell Shire has had new cases within the past 14 days.

“Victorians have done what has been asked of them and have kept to the rules,” said Ms Staley.

“However, Daniel Andrews decreed that all of Victoria has to make this ‘Last Step’ together. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Victoria has NEVER experienced 14 days with no new cases.

“Daniel Andrews has also promised regional Victorians a ‘ring of steel’ to keep them safe, so only people with permitted reasons travel to and from country Victoria. It will be another failure of his management of the pandemic if he cannot keep that promise to regional Victorians.”

It’s Time
The time has come, Victorians claim, to see:

• Adult education including universities and TAFE return to onsite learning.
• All retail open.
• Hospitality limits increase to 50 indoors, subject to density rules.
• Gyms, personal trainers, dance studios, and gymnastics reopen.
• Weddings and funerals can have 50 people at them.
• Churches reopen for public worship.
• Caps removed on accommodation.
• Cinemas, galleries, theatres and music venues reopen, subject to density rules.