VFF joins call to ease coronavirus restrictions in regional Victoria first
The Victorian Farmers Federation is backing a call to ease restrictions in the state’s regional areas first, as concerns grow over Victoria’s rising coronavirus cases.
REGIONAL Victoria must be allowed to get back to business and kickstart its economic recovery after the coronavirus crisis, even if restrictions remain in Melbourne.
That’s the call from the Victorian Farmers Federation, as it joins Australian Industry Group and Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in urging the Andrews Government to ease restrictions for regional areas.
The groups argue Victoria’s regions should be allowed to reopen first, as offices are less populated, workers typically don’t have to rely on public transport, and social distancing can be more readily managed.
“We can’t have a cookie-cutter approach to the easing of restrictions,” VFF vice-president Emma Germano said.
“We need the opportunity for our regional economy to recover as soon as possible after the trifecta of COVID, bushfire and drought.
“We need the Government to realise there is a Victoria outside the gridlines.”
Victoria is due to ease restrictions from Monday, however concerns have arisen that changes could be delayed amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in recent days.
Another 12 cases were confirmed this morning, following 18 new cases yesterday; two of those cases were identified in regional Victoria.
Victorian Transport Minister Jacinta Allan this morning said the number of cases was being monitored on an hourly basis.
“We’ve already previously announced to the Victorian community what the next stage of restrictions look like, but we are carefully monitoring that,” Ms Allan said.
“We’ll continue to take the advice of the Chief Health Officer, and if there’s any change to those restrictions, we’ll give that information to Victoria community as quickly as we possibly can.”
Ms Germano said the Government needed to acknowledge that the level of risk, and its management, was different in the city and country, as demonstrated by the number of cases.
She added that regions had also been disproportionately affected by unemployment due to the health crisis.
Analysis from the Grattan Institute has indicated regional Victoria has been among the hardest hit for job losses, with the federal electorate of Wannon in the state’s west topping the list at 8.4 per cent, followed by Mallee on 8 per cent.
AIG Victoria group head Tim Piper said reopening businesses could be done in a staged manner starting with those in suburban and regional areas, providing social distancing could be maintained.
“Businesses in Victoria need to be getting back to work, it’s important for re-energising the economy and for creating and maintaining jobs,” he said.
AIG and VECCI have also called for hospitality businesses to reopen without caps, as long as they can abide by social distancing rules; a public transport plan for Melbourne; and a recovery plan to ensure there is a boost in jobs.
MORE
‘No one knew it was coming’: Tongala cow abattoir shuts
The livestock industry and local community have reacted to Greenham’s closure of its Tongala cow processing plant.
Victorians want to feel guilt-free about eating meat
Research – to guide a Victorian Government-funded pro-agriculture campaign – has revealed how consumers feel about the state’s farmers and what issues need to be addressed.