Federal Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, has called for Premier Andrews to provide evidence of the need to lockdown regional Victoria.

“In what seems like a bad case of déjà vu, all of Victoria has once more been plunged into lockdown due to several cases in Melbourne. I’ve made my position clear – I don’t support state-wide lockdowns where there are no traces of the virus. We need targeted and proportionate responses to these outbreaks. Regional Victoria is not Melbourne.”

“Premier Andrews only a few days ago taunted the NSW Premier, demanding a ring of steel to be put around Sydney, and justifying border communities being penalised by his harsher rules as a result.

“Now he has failed to implement a ring of steel around Melbourne, and instead locked down the entire state.

“Once again, driven by fear and a Spring St centric view of the state, the premier and the state government have determined that the only approach is a statewide lockdown.

“To find out today that the justification for a statewide lockdown, hinged on positive results in Wangaratta which are now false, is appalling. Mr Andrews needs to provide the evidence for this urban-easy solution of statewide closure, which unnecessarily hurts regional Victorians.

“This lockdown continues to punish businesses who are still reeling from the previous lockdown, exited only 10 days ago.

“Border communities like Mildura and Swan Hill, and all of regional Victoria, have shown we can manage an outbreak, with a commitment to doing the right thing, getting tested when required and stepping up for a vaccine. What we do not appreciate is being locked down with no evidence for the necessity.

“The Federal Government have announced that they will be increasing their support to Victorian businesses and individuals in this lockdown, through joint business support with the Victorian government and COVID-19 disaster payments for eligible individuals.”

“I encourage people to contact my office if they have any trouble accessing support.”