Regional Victorian businesses beg for lockdown reprieve

Business leaders in regional Victoria say traders can’t survive much longer under lockdown and are pleading for restrictions to be eased outside of Greater Melbourne.

Authorities have refused to provide any immediate reprieve for “frustrated” regional businesses pleading to be released from the statewide lockdown.

It comes as the state government gets set to extend Victoria’s lockdown with tough restrictions to remain in place until at least early next week.

It is understood the state government will also look to expand its business support package for those most affected by the restrictions.

It will also renew its push for the Federal Government to stump up cash for workers who lose shifts due to the restrictions.

“Frydenberg keeps pointing to JobKeeper as if an expired payment scheme from a year ago helps anyone. That was 2020, this is now, and workers need help,” a senior government source said.

It comes as no new positive cases, were identified outside greater Melbourne, prompting calls to reintroduce a “ring of steel” to free regional Victoria from lockdown.

But Health Minister Martin Foley wouldn’t comment on whether the regions could expect some good news come Friday.

“It continues to be a day by day, case-by-case proposition,” Mr Foley warned.

Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry head John Anderson said local traders could not survive much longer under an extended lockdown.

“It’s a bad situation,” Mr Anderson said.

“We can cope with one week of that but we can’t cope with that ongoing.

“We hope the regions will be treated differently come Friday.”

Acting Premier James Merlino did not on Tuesday confirm when the lockdown would be lifted. Picture: Getty Images.

Business Wodonga chief executive Neil Aird said while everyone had to remain vigilant against coronavirus, the far northern district had to endure harsh rules while knowing Albury, just over the border, carried on with life as normal.

“It is frustrating and many business owners are angry,” Mr Aird said.

“I am pretty frustrated and angry on behalf of our businesses but Covid is still a threat.

“To include Wodonga in these lockdowns seems unfair because we haven’t had a case and people are following the rules.”

Dennis Bice, chief executive of Bendigo’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said it was “disappointing” businesses may not be up and running by the end of the week despite the regions remaining relatively untouched by the virus.

“There is an element of frustration around being in lockdown,” Mr Bice said.

“The regional areas need to be open.”

Mr Bice said while traders in Bendigo had adapted to travel restrictions, incomes nonetheless had been slashed by the blanket rules.

“Businesses are running at about 25 per cent of their income so far.”

He said: “They would be fine with being able to open up while the metro areas stayed locked down.”

Mildura Rural City Council mayor Jason Modica called for a universal ‘traffic light’ system to be introduced to spare regional areas from closures when cases emerged out of Melbourne.

“We are one state but for quite a while now there has been discussion about a traffic light system”

“We are so far away so it is difficult to cope under the same rules.”

Owners of Lollipops Playland and Cafe and Crazy Climb in Noble Park Cathy and Tony Maher. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Cardinia Shire, which sits on the border of greater Melbourne and regional Victoria, boasts a mix of suburban and regional towns including booming suburbs of Pakenham and Officer, and quiet country towns like Bunyip and Garfield.

Cardinia Shire chief executive Carol Jeffs said: “Council would welcome any consideration to an application of restrictions that acknowledges the unique qualities of our shire and local communities, including an understanding of the diverse geography in Cardinia Shire.”

Opposition spokeswoman Georgie Crozier slammed the government for not providing any real insight into whether the statewide shutdown would be extended.

“How ridiculous that we’ve got the entire state locked down if there are no cases in regional Victoria,” Ms Crozier said.

Nationals leader Peter Walsh said: “Country people are at our wits end being dragged into the turmoil of Labor’s policy of statewide lockdowns to tackle outbreaks in Melbourne”.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the state government has been running a ‘smear campaign’. Picture: Gary Ramage

WAR OF WORDS OVER SUPPORT

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has accused the state government of running a “smear campaign” over economic support, as Melbourne business owners say lifelong dreams are turning to nightmares.

Mr Frydenberg said on Tuesday the economic hit of Victoria’s seven-day lockdown could be managed at a local level, after state Treasurer Tim Pallas sparked a war of words by accusing his federal counterpart of forgetting Victorians.

“They ran a pretty desperate attempt to smear us, when in reality the numbers tell a very different story,” Mr Frydenberg said on Tuesday.

“We have already delivered $45 billion-plus to families and businesses, where the state government has delivered $13 billion.”

Treasury officials on Tuesday revealed that 56,000 people lost their jobs after the JobKeeper scheme ended, but many of those were expected to regain work in coming weeks.

Cathy Maher said “no support and continued lockdowns” would destroy her Noble Park business, Lollipops Playland and Cafe.

The majority of the business’s 30 staff are casuals no longer supported by JobKeeper.

Ms Maher said she would apply for the state government’s $2500 lockdown grant but it “won’t even cover rent or electricity for a week.”

“We of course support health and safety measures – you just can’t leave everyone to fend for themselves with no support,” she said. “This isn’t just money, it’s (our) livelihood – (our) lifelong dream has turned into a nightmare.”

Labor MP Julian Hill said: “The Victorian government’s stumped up $250m to help small businesses, yet Scott Morrison is refusing any help. It’s no exaggeration to say that businesses like this are going to fail if the federal government fails to step up.

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