Regional Victoria MP receives complaint about Melbourne women who travelled to Bendigo just for a haircut

Two Melbourne women allegedly travelled all the way to a regional COVID-19 hot spot for a haircut. But it’s what they did next that’s drawn attention.

Two Melbourne women who travelled to a regional COVID-19 hot spot for a haircut boasted about their blatant breach of lockdown, a regional MP has claimed.

State Liberal MP for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said she received the “deeply concerning” complaint from a constituent in Bendigo on Friday about the haircut.

“I received a complaint today two women had travelled from Melbourne to Bendigo for a haircut and were bragging about it,” she said.

“This is the very behaviour that puts the community at risk.

“There needs to be a steel trap around Melbourne, there is not enough protection for the regions. All it takes is one case to matters so much worse.”

MP Wendy Lovell says there needs to be tougher measures to keep Melburnians away from regions during lockdown.

It comes as health authorities ramp up virus testing across three major regional hubs, including Bendigo, with Premier Daniel Andrews revealing “significant growth” in infections across country Victoria.

Bendigo had recorded 53 cases in the past 14 days, it was revealed on Thursday.

“Despite the fact they’re under a different set of rules, we have seen some growth in cases – significant growth that is of obvious concern,” Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters.

COVID-19 testing in Bendigo ramps up as infections rise. Picture: David Crosling/NCA NewsWire

State Police Minister Lisa Neville has previously defended loopholes in the city’s lockdown that allow for Melburnians to travel to other regions.

“Officers are out in full force with increased patrols monitoring exit and entry points to regional Victoria including train carriages, train stations and ferry terminals as well as public transport departing from Southern Cross station,” she said.

“They’re also on our local roads and out in the community on foot making sure people are abiding by the directions of the chief health officer.”

Booze buses have been deployed to road stops and checkpoints to monitor traffic along main arterials into regional Victoria, with police using technology to scan registration details and identify the primary addresses of licence holders.

Individuals caught breaching lockdown laws faces on-the-spot fines of $1652.

Originally published as Regional Victoria MP receives complaint about Melbourne women who travelled to Bendigo just for a haircut