Greens MPs call for inquiry into Melbourne towers hard lockdown

There are calls for an inquiry into the Victorian Government’s management of its hard lockdown in the Melbourne’s housing commission towers.

There are calls for an independent inquiry into the management of the Victorian Government’s “hard lockdown” as residents in eight of the nine commission towers finally walk free this morning.

But the 480 people who live at 33 Alfred Street, North Melbourne, will be forced to live under the strict measures for another nine days after 53 cases were confirmed at the building.

It is expected Centrelink will start rolling out hardship payments of $750 to affected residents on Friday.

But state and federal Greens MPs Ellen Sandell and Adam Bandt said it was too little, too late and, in a letter to the Premier, called on Daniel Andrews to address “serious failings” with the hard lockdown.

In the letter they wrote: “Five days later, there is still much confusion about the chain of command and co-ordination of services, which is preventing residents from receiving the care and support they need.”

Ms Sandell and Mr Bandt raised incidents of residents having NDIS care removed, diabetic patients without access to clean needles and a mother unable to deliver breastmilk and visit her ill premature baby at a nearby hospital.

The politicians also wanted an inquiry into the delivery of expired food products, the prevention of access to food donation drop-offs and a lack of information distributed to residents.

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Balloons were tied to the fence outside the North Melbourne towers as restrictions were eased. Picture: David Crosling/ NCA NewsWire

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The Department of Health and Human Services maintained it had worked closely with CoHealth to ensure tower residents had access to vital supplies such as medications.

“Medications are being collected from pharmacies and taken directly to residents. Residents can call our dedicated information line if there are concerns about their medication. We are also working closely with local community leaders to engage and support residents,” a spokesperson said.

REUNITED WITH PREM BABY

A mother who “could not sleep for days” has finally been reunited with her premature baby in hospital after she was barred from leaving her home at the Canning St towers.

Hanan Hashime Atiya could not see her ill daughter, born 26 weeks premature, and struggled to get health authorities to deliver breast milk to her at the Royal Women’s Hospital.

Her husband Hany said they felt “like a ball” where they were told “to call this person, wait for this person, stay there” but “never had clear information” on whether they could see their daughter despite testing negative to COVID-19.
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Hany Hashime Atiya reunited with his daughter Hanen.

He said the hospital fed her daughter formula “without permission” while no one came to collect breast milk from his wife.

Royal Women’s Hospital chief operating officer Lisa Lynch acknowledged the situation had been difficult.

“We know this is an incredibly difficult situation for the ­­­Mohamed family, and we continue to do everything we can to support them and work with them in providing the best possible care for their baby in our newborn intensive care unit (NICU),” she said.

“Our healthcare workers have gone to great lengths to facilitate collections of expressed breast milk and to give mum some time with her baby in our NICU. This has not been easy and there have been many obstacles. But we have been pleased to finally see progress and also to see the baby doing remarkably well.”