Doorknockers from COVID-19 hotspots allowed to go door-to-door across Victoria

Despite sending all of metropolitan Melbourne back into lockdown, the Andrews Labor Government was still until today, allowing people from COVID-19 hotspots to go door-to-door to change lightbulbs in regional Victoria under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) scheme.

The VEU scheme was only suspended after the Liberal Nationals highlighted the risk to public health the scheme posed.

This program, that was suspended during the first lockdown, but when restrictions were lifted on June 24 (p 2), once again resumed and was only suspended today after being raised by the Liberal Nationals.

In one shocking example, a VEU doorknocker from the COVID-19 hotspot of Truganina was found offering installations in Dimboola, over three-and-a-half hours away.

Another VEU doorknocker from metropolitan Melbourne, who should have been in lockdown, has been found offering installations in Beechworth, three hours from Melbourne.

The risks these VEU doorknockers exposed the community to were entirely unacceptable.

On one hand, hundreds-of-thousands have lost their jobs and small businesses have been sent to the wall because of yet another lockdown. A lockdown which is a direct consequence of Daniel Andrews bungling of hotel quarantine and mixed messages on protests.

On the other hand, VEU doorknockers from postcodes that are meant to be locked down can drive over three hours, outside the lockdown zone, to offer to change people’s lightbulbs. They are travelling door-to-door and potentially spreading COVID-19.

When Daniel Andrews announced his second lockdown he stated ominously “for every restriction that you break and all the health advice you ignore – the consequence may be someone’s life”.

Andrews has failed to enforce his own message in his own government’s program.

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables, Ryan Smith:

“Daniel Andrews has once again failed to back up his tough talk with real action to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

“This is just the latest example of Daniel Andrews failing to do his bit to ensure that the coronavirus doesn’t continue to spread across Victoria.

“It’s scandalous that Daniel Andrews encouraged people from COVID-19 hotspots to travel for hours and go door-to-door, entering people’s homes and putting their health at risk.”

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