Cranbourne police sergeant says station has been flooded with COVID-19-related calls
Phones are ringing off the hook in police stations and pollies’ offices as confused Melburnians question coronavirus restrictions, with one even asking if he could “spend the day at Bunnings to get out of the house”.
South East
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Police and politicians have been flooded with phone calls from the public asking what they can and can’t do during COVID-19 stage-three restrictions.
Cranbourne police Sergeant Gavin Buchan said the station had received many phone calls from people who were frustrated and confused.
Sgt Buchan said some people asked if they could have a dinner party with guests during the lockdown.
“One person even called asking if they could go to Bunnings to have a day out of the house,” he said.
Sgt Buchan said they fielded calls from people asking if they were allowed to look at a house for sale, walk in the park and even go to the shops.
“We’ve also had people call up and dob on others who are flouting laws,” he said.
“Overall, in March, the call rates have been the same but the reason for the calls have been different because more people are calling about the virus.”
Sgt Buchan said the station had also received calls from people angered over fishing laws.
“People are ringing up and asking why they can’t go fishing, they ask ‘why can one state do it and not the other’?”
“Sometimes it’s a very a grey area with what they’ve been asking, so we refer them onto the coronavirus hotline.”
He said there had also been fewer calls about road policing, due to a smaller number of cars on the road.
“Accidents are down too due to less vehicles travelling on the roads, so we haven’t received a lot of calls about this.”
And Bruce federal Labor MP Julian Hill said his office had also been answering p[hone queries about restrictions during the pandemic.
“In the first few weeks of the crisis after the Prime Minister’s lengthy press conferences, there was always a spike in calls from people who were quite confused,” Mr Hill said.
“The elderly said they were particularly worried that the Prime Minister just told them they weren’t allowed to leave the house and they were not sure how they could get the mail from the letterbox.”
“One man was so concerned, he wouldn’t be allowed to wash his car because the Prime Minister had just told him he had to stay in his house.”
Mr Hill said he had also received phone calls from local people suggesting there should be World War II style ration vouchers.
“Numerous people rang up and emailed, dozens and dozens said the answer to the toilet paper, rice and pasta crisis would be to introduce these vouchers.”
“I want to highlight that there are no dumb questions, people ring up with all sorts of questions and we do our best to answer them and offer reassurance.”
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Mr Hill said the office had been busier than ever with people in genuine distress needing help and advice.
“We’ve seen a number of people that need immediate help and confusion about where to go, a good MP’s office should be a trusted source for information and referrals.”