Victoria has become the ‘place to flee’

Victoria used to be the “place to be”, now people are leaving the lockdown capital in droves because of the government’s wanton devastation of livelihoods and liberties.

Remember when Victoria was “the place to be”?

We were so keen on that sentiment that it was even on our number plates.

But, sadly we are now the “place to flee” with a third of Victorians, from both metropolitan

Melbourne and regional areas, saying they would prefer to reside interstate and would move if they had the chance, according to polling published exclusively in the Herald Sun.

Many Victorians have fallen out of love with their home state and want a new beginning away from the lockdown capital.

Moving interstate is a monumental, life-altering decision; it’s not one people take lightly.

After four lockdowns, one lasting 112 days, one can understand why those who’ve watched their livelihoods and liberties destroyed want to flee.

We are seeing NSW again manage a coronavirus outbreak without devastating state wide

restrictions or lockdowns.

On Monday NSW reported just two new cases of community transmission from more than 25,000 tests.

It’s worth noting that Victoria locked down for the fourth time over an outbreak of the Kappa strain while NSW is currently dealing with an outbreak of the more infectious Delta strain without draconian statewide restrictions.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show Victoria had the lowest population increase of any state or territory in 2020 gaining only 700 people compared to Queensland’s 58,100, NSW’s 35,600 and Western Australia’s 24,500.

Even the Northern Territory and the ACT gained more people than Victoria which lost a net 12,737 residents moving interstate last year.

The polling commissioned by the Herald Sun also reveals a shift in voter sentiment in Labor’s

heartland in Melbourne’s West.

Western Melbourne remains a Leftist stronghold with 44 per cent of voters identifying as Labor supporters — compared to 37 per cent of voters in Eastern Melbourne and 35 per cent in regional Victoria — but only 36 per cent would vote for Labor if an election was held today.

Across the state the gap between Labor and the Coalition has shortened but if the polling is accurate Dan Andrews government would be re-elected with 52.4 per cent of the vote.

The Coalition has failed to hold the government accountable and has not communicated a

consistent, coherent message challenging crippling restrictions.

Opposition leader Michael O’Brien should have unequivocally stood against Victoria’s lockdown mentality.

Last week the opposition leader spelt out how he would respond to Covid-19 outbreaks without city or statewide lockdowns.

For too long the perception was that he would simply follow the hyperbolic advice of chief health officer Brett Sutton.