Coronavirus Australia: Victoria’s ‘tough’ Stage 4 lockdown slammed

Victorian opposition leader Michael OBrien has slammed the state governments decision to bring about a Stage 4 lockdown, saying it will be a bitter pill to swallow for Victorian workers.“I feel for every Victorian whose life and livelihood will be affected by this decision through no fault of their own,” he said.
“Small business will be particularly hard hit. Many shopping strips and High Streets will become ghost towns for at least 6 weeks. Many will not recover.
“I’m calling for the Labor Government to do more to support affected workers and small business through this.
“Sole traders, in particular, have been left behind. The smallest of small businesses deserve extra support, not being ignored.”
He also pushed for a “dedicated hotline” where affected workers and business operators can get answers.
“These are very tough times made tougher by Labor Government mistakes which have led to the harshest lockdowns in our state’s history,” he said. “The least that the Labor Government can do is to let people know where they stand.”
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However, there is evidence to suggest Victoria’s situation would have been much worse without earlier lockdown measures.
Research from the Burnet Institute revealed that before Melbourne introduced Stage 3 lockdowns, the reproduction number was 1.75, ABC’s 7.30 program reported.
According to the research, the Level 3 restrictions brought that infection rate down, essentially meaning that 20,000 infections were avoided during the month of July.
Victoria has recorded a further 429 cases today, marking a drop from 671 yesterday, and 13 additional deaths. The state now has 6489 active cases.
Premier Daniel Andrews has announced tough new stage 4 restrictions that will likely see an extra 250,000 Victorians out of work.
Speaking to the media on Monday afternoon, Mr Andrews said he estimated around 500,000 residents would be working from home during the six-week lockdown period in a bid to contain the coronavirus crisis plaguing the state.
He said the number of those stood down from their job was likely to double under the latest measures, which are the harshest in Australia’s history.
“We know there (are) about 250,000 people stood down in one form or another and this will add a further 250,000 in rough numbers. We will get a clearer sense of that as the week unfolds,” Mr Andrews said.
He said the lockdown was “essential” to reduce the risk of people “moving around the community, and therefore, the number of points at which the virus can be transmitted from one person to another”.
He also stressed that there would be financial support for those affected by the new rules.
“ … JobKeeper and JobSeeker are at the higher level, the higher rate until well into September, well past the six week window, and I will continue my discussions around cash flow support, business support, other things we can do in partnership,” he said.
“I make that commitment to every single Victorian that we will work together in partnership with the Commonwealth to look after those who need to be looked after, to support those who need support, and then to getting, to get right into that rebuilding work that will be necessary once we get to the other side of this.”
Mr Andrews said it would take Victoria “years to recover” from the broader coronavirus crisis and said it was “absolutely essential” to come up with a recovery plan.
“In terms of the Victorian economy, I would see it as not just a six-week issue, I’d see this as the entire impact of this pandemic, which is now months old, will take us years to recover from,” he said.
“There’s simply no doubt about that. And that’s why a clear plan to rebuild, to recover, with strength, a clear plan around skills and jobs, will be absolutely essential.
“And we’ve already begun the hard work of drawing that plan up, and we will waste no time delivering it, and delivering it in full.”