Cabinet considers curfew change as virus numbers drop
Melbourne’s 9pm curfew could be changed as Daniel Andrews’ crisis cabinet thrashes out plans to alter key stage four restrictions ahead of an announcement on Sunday as coronavirus numbers continue to fall.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A change to Melbourne’s 9pm curfew was on Saturday night being debated by Daniel Andrews’ crisis cabinet as plans to change key industry restrictions were thrashed out.
The Premier will on Sunday make “substantial announcements” about the easing of restrictions on the back of just 12 new cases being recorded across the state on Saturday.
Melbourne’s 14-day average has dropped to 23.6 which is well below the 30 to 50 threshold needed to trigger a move to step 2 of the government’s recovery road map.
It is understood abattoirs and supermarket distribution centres are likely to have restrictions tweaked to try to ensure no food shortages loom ahead of Christmas.
And the real estate industry may get changes made so that open for inspections can reinvigorate the stalled property market.
It comes as the state opposition demanded a fast-tracking of the road map, the curfew to be dropped immediately and all Victorian students be allowed to return to school.
A Crisis Council of Cabinet meeting was on Saturday night finalising details of the announcement and the curfew was understood to be under consideration.
But Mr Andrews said although he would go beyond measures outlined in the road map, any extra easing of restrictions would be made cautiously.
“We are consistent with the types of easing that have been foreshadowed in that road map, so there’s no dramatic departure from that but there are a couple of areas where we say and do more,” he said.
“Again, we are not throwing the doors open tomorrow — the place is not opened up tomorrow — and I’ve tried to be clear about that.
“But people can be optimistic and positive about the fact that these numbers are coming down.
“I do hope tomorrow to be able to talk a little bit more about what October looks like and the fact that we are ahead of schedule.”
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien unveiled an alternative plan.
“Victorians are desperate for a plan to get our lives back but all we get from Daniel Andrews are plans to keep Victorians locked up,” he said.
“Victoria can re-open safer and sooner under our plan.
He called on Daniel Andrews to immediately drop the daily curfew and let all students return to school from the first week of term four.
Under Mr O’Brien’s alternative plan, restrictions on businesses and industry in metropolitan Melbourne would also immediately jump to the third step of the Premier’s recovery road map.
MORE NEWS
EASING OF RESTRICTIONS MAY GO STEP FURTHER THAN PLANNED
DAN STANDS BY RIGHT-HAND MAN DESPITE DISASTROUS CALL