THE Victorian Government has been lambasted for again lumping regional Victoria in the latest lockdown, with Opposition Upper House leader David Davis questioning why Mildura had been included in the “devastating” move.
Just an hour after Premier Daniel Andrews said there was “no alternative” than to implement the state’s sixth lockdown, Mr Davis told State Parliament the move would have a “huge and devastating impact on schoolchildren, on businesses, on people right across the land”.
Mr Davis said that while Victorians needed to be kept safe, it was “scurrilous” and “outrageous” that 6.5 million people were locked down without the government releasing information on which the decision was based.
“Let us see the information, the background, the documents, the proportionality and the charter assessments,” Mr Davis said.
“I heard there is wastewater in one country town that has some evidence of COVID,” he said.
“That might well be right up in Wangaratta, or up that way, but why is Portland then locked down? Why is Mildura locked down? Why is Lakes Entrance locked down?”
Mildura has three active COVID-19 cases, all linked to the same household, which originated from an AFL match at the MCG on July 10.
Wastewater testing at the Koorlong treatment plant returned expected positive results on July 19, 20, 28 and 29, and as late as last Monday.
It followed an unexpected positive detection in May.
The treatment plant covers two-thirds of Mildura and the Irymple and Red Cliffs areas.
There have been no positive detections at the Mildura wastewater treatment plant, which covers a third of the city, since testing began in September last year.
Mildura has no listed exposure sites and no further positive tests more than two weeks after about 700 residents who attended the original tier 1 and 2 locations went into isolation.
Mr Davis said a public health order should be based on transparency, accountability and proportionality.
“Where you are locking down 6.5 million Victorians, they are entitled to know why and to see every single bit of it, to see every reason,” he said.
The Nationals leader Peter Walsh said the decision to lock down the entire state for another seven days – even in parts of the state with no active cases or local exposure sites – would be the nail in the coffin for small businesses and communities.
“Even before the last lockdown, towns along the Murray River had recorded a $1 billion economic hit,” he said.
“Statewide lockdowns should be a last resort – not a first response.
“Victorians deserve a plan for a proportionate response that clamps down on hot spots, while allowing communities that have no active cases or exposure sites to stay open.”
