STATE Nationals leader Peter Walsh says the next six weeks will be some of the most difficult times regional Victoria has faced.
As regional Victoria re-entered stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions this week, Mr Walsh said main streets of country towns would struggle to survive a second round of shutdowns.
“Like all Victorians, we have done our bit to stop the spread of coronavirus, to save lives and to protect the future of our country businesses and communities,” Mr Walsh said.
“Many more country Victorians will lose their job — many more of our small businesses will be forced to close their doors.
“Our cafes, restaurants and pubs in country towns that have not recorded a single case of coronavirus but now face six weeks of shutdowns are questioning why we are wearing the disastrous consequences of the Andrews Labor Government’s mismanagement of this crisis.
“There is still time to change this decision before more people are put out of work and small businesses close.
“The Andrews Government must urgently review postcode-level data to put restrictions in place where they are needed most, while ensuring towns that haven’t recorded positive cases can survive.”
Mr Walsh said there had never been a more important time to reach out to family, friends and neighbours should the blanket shutdown imposed for regional Victoria remain.
“Check in with vulnerable people in your community, buy local whenever you can and pull together and embrace the proud community spirit our country towns are famous for,” he said.
“We are all in this together.”
