Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull has urged Premier Daniel Andrews to do what he said he would do – consider more freedoms in regional areas where there were no COVID cases or exposure sites, earlier.

This comes after the it was been revealed the reason for locking down country Victoria yesterday was wrong.

The Premier’s statement that there was a positive in wastewater at Wangaratta, then a negative and then a positive again, was not accurate. It has been clarified by COVID response commander, Jeroen Weimar that there was no second positive - it was negative, then negative again.

“The Premier said three weeks ago he would look at opening up areas of the country with no positive cases, but had to wait due to football crowds needing to be tested. This time we’ve had no sporting event crowds and have no cases and exposure sites,” said Mr Bull.

“The ring around Melbourne was effective earlier this year. Country people could visit other country areas and locals were able to support local businesses. Accommodation houses were not allowed to book in non-essential travellers. It worked well.

“East Gippsland is not a day trip destination from Melbourne. If they can’t get a room, they won’t come. Our accommodation businesses enforced this well last time.

“I am just asking the Premier to do what he has done earlier in 2021, and what he said he would look at three weeks ago.

“This is especially important on the back of many businesses today finding out they are ineligible for the business supports, despite being heavily impacted.

“The government’s so-called concierge service to assist those falling through the cracks is laughable – all it is doing is confirming to many hard hit businesses they are ineligible,” said Mr Bull.

Friday, 6 August 2021