Rural Councils Victoria standing up to Labor insanity
Rural Councils Victoria (RCV) has been congratulated for urging the Victorian Government to ‘de-couple’ regional Victoria from Melbourne in relation to lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.
The Liberal Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said RCV is completely justified in its request for an earlier lifting and easing of restrictions.
“Treating the city and country as the same is pure insanity,” Mrs McArthur said.
“I fully congratulate the bravery and strength of Rural Councils Victoria for standing up to the Andrews’ Government which has shown no propensity to listen to country people.
“We know the Premier doesn’t like being stood up to, or questioned, but this is an issue he cannot ignore. Quite simply, there are lives at stake, and too many have already been lost.”
“Labor’s regional MPs are silent on this and they should be ashamed. Their job is to represent the people, not ignore them. Country people will remember who stood up when needed,” she said.
Rural Councils Victoria represent 37 local councils. In Victoria, 38 of the state’s 79 councils are classified as rural and together cover 79 per cent of Victoria’s land area and a population of 745,000.
There are zero cases of unknown coronavirus in rural Victoria. The rolling 14-day-average is 0.3
“There are parts of rural and regional Victoria that have never had a case of coronavirus – yet they have been subjected to the same bizarre standards applied to Melbourne.
“RCV is right to request that regional and rural Victoria be considered separately to Melbourne and to demand that Step 3 Restrictions be eased.
“It is also right to argue for rural-based workers to be allowed to return to work under Covid-safe conditions. To do otherwise is Illogical and simply criminal. There is much at stake: the lives and livelihoods of thousands; the economic future of communities; and the wellbeing of rural Victoria.
Mrs McArthur said the move as proposed by RCV to the final step in the Covid-plan would enable:
Outdoor public gatherings of up to 50 people
Up to 20 visitors in the home
Indoor hospitality functions for up to 50 people
Reopening of gyms and municipal libraries
Churches to return to indoor and outdoor services
No restrictions on exercise
All retail to open
When there is no coronavirus in rural Victoria - and with 99 per cent of all coronavirus cases registered as mild anyway – the need to treat people outside the tram tracks of Melbourne with due respect is well, well over due.
07 October 2020