Coronavirus Victoria: Locked-down tower residents denied food packages

Video has emerged of a heated exchange between residents and police inside a quarantined tower after authorities denied access to food donations.

Fed-up residents inside one of Melbourne’s quarantined housing commission towers have clashed with police after they were denied access to food donation drop-offs on Monday night.

Footage obtained by NCA NewsWire shows rows of boxes stuffed with food outside the foyer of 130 Racecourse Rd, Flemington, with a desperate mother pleading with police officers to access the donations.

But she was denied, with the incident escalating into a screaming match.

Police block residents from accessing food donations at one of the Flemington towers last night.

Bags and boxes full of food were delivered to quarantined public housing residents last night.

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A second video also shows boxes and bags of food donated by “mosques and other organisations” lined up outside the Flemington public housing tower.

A resident shooting the film says: “They’re (police) saying the food might be contaminated, and we can only take what we give you.”

Victorian Greens MP Ellen Sandell confirmed the disturbing incidents.

She said she was “alarmed” to hear State Emergency Service volunteers were “taking away individual food donations” at the Flemington towers and escalated the issue to the Premier’s office.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson apologised for the “inconvenience and frustration”.

“DHHS is aware of some delays with accepting donations and deliveries, which caused confusion at the Flemington housing estate (Monday) evening,” the spokesperson said.

“We are currently working with the parties involved to make sure food and other supplies are being provided without further interruption.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and frustration caused and thank the residents for their co-operation and patience.”