Melbourne backpackers pour into Mildura posing rural COVID-19 risk

Backpackers are leaving Melbourne, via car and V/Line bus, for work in Mildura, despite the COVID-19 lockdown.

Pick a town: Backpackers are leaving Melbourne looking for work harvesting oranges in Mildura, despite coronavirus lockdowns. Picture: ANDY ROGERS

BACKPACKERS are spilling out of Melbourne into Mildura looking for work, despite COVID-19 travel restrictions.

“We’re still getting people rocking up from Melbourne and we say get a (COVID-19) test and self-isolate,” Mildura-based MADEC harvest trail manager Gavin Krake said.

“These people are even hopping on V/Line buses to get here. I’m not sure what vetting is going on in Melbourne, but it’s concerning.”

Mr Krake said he had a group arrive today from Melbourne.

“We contacted the police to ask what was happening, given it places rural communities at risk,” he said.

Stay at Home directives were issued under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 on July 20, to the residents of Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, which includes backpackers.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ directions state: “If you are currently in a backpacker hostel, you should regard it as your home for the purposes of the Stay at Home direction”.

“You should avoid spending time in communal areas of the hostel. You may leave the hostel to board a flight out of Australia”.

The same rules apply to backpackers living in outer Melbourne or Mitchell Shire caravan parks.

But while backpackers are turning up in town, without being COVID-19 tested, Mildura freight operators are being forced to test truck drivers every seven days, under rules brought in by the NSW Government.

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