Premier's Regional Lockdowns Are A Fraud
The Victorian Government’s Clayton’s easing of COVID-19 restrictions in regional Victoria, excluding Shepparton, proves the current statewide lockdown is a fraud on the public.
Without the virus, the regional lockdown imposition was completely unnecessary.
While restrictions on leaving home will be lifted tomorrow night, today’s shambolic announcement condemns country business operators to ongoing distress.
Restaurants and cafes can only open with 10 people inside and 20 seated outside.
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said the business community is outraged.
“Commerce Ballarat has told me that the capacity limits ‘are not even remotely viable’.”
“The silence from the Government is deafening. And the impact on the business is mortal, even for those receiving the hardship fund,” Mrs McArthur said.
Sam Benjamin from the Austral Hotel in Colac has signalled the restriction caps are not feasible.
“For a venue with a footprint of our size, it is not viable to open for on-premise drinks or dining. We are licensed for 200 people,” Mr Benjamin said.
In Ballarat, Brian Taylor, the owner of popular licensed venues Hop Temple, Aunty Jacks and Roy Hammond says his venues face a similar fate.
He has decided two of these sites will remain shut under these restrictions, with only Roy Hammond opening.
His main concern is the impact on business confidence and staff.
“We’re losing the confidence of staff. They’re scared, they’re worried, they want to leave the industry to jobs that are secure.
“It’s madness, money is going out the door quicker than we can imagine. The question is, are these support payments going to continue?
“And when we re-open, there won’t be staff to open with. We’re losing our skilled staff. It hurts us because customers demand quality staff who know their product,” Mr Taylor said.
It is a sentiment shared across the events and tourism sector.
Mrs McArthur said the Premier’s announcement continues to regard school as non-essential.
“Despite the extraordinary evidence that children are battling serious mental issues with isolation and home schooling, Daniel Andrews has only allowed Prep-Grade 2 and Year 12 students back to the classroom.
“It is as if education and students are disposable commodities.
“It is an appalling abuse of their childhoods and their right to a proper education. There is no excuse for this anywhere – let alone in virus-free regional Victoria ,” Mrs McArthur said.
The number of wedding guests is capped at 10 and funerals at 20.
“What an insult to regional Victorians, many of whom are in locations where there has never been one case.
“The ongoing mandating of masks indoors and outside is further stupidity. Their only purpose in regional Victoria is as a revenue raising tool – because they’re not achieving any health benefit in the middle of a paddock or exercising around Lake Wendouree, Lake Pertobe or Lake Bullen Merri.
“And worse still, the Premier continues to treat business owners as his own personal police force – demanding they check the IDs of all customers.
“This has to stop. Business owners are not police, or the Premier’s henchmen.
“If they can open, their job is to provide quality service and product, not KGB stand over tactics,” she said.
8 September 2021
