Door-to-door sales suspended in the Wimmera due to COVID-19 health risk

Salespeople allegedly have visited homes in the region offering free changeover of low energy light bulbs through the government's Victorian Energy Upgrades program.

As of 12.15pm on Monday door-to-door salespeople have been told to return to Melbourne.

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Several residents had contacted Member for Lowan Emma Kealy, alarmed that people were allowed to go door-to-door during the pandemic.

Dimboola community members were also left outraged when boxes of old light bulbs were found dumped near the Wimmera River.

"I am grateful to those community members who reported the disgraceful illegal dumping associated with the VEU program in our area, when lightbulbs and showerheads were found dumped at Dimboola and Nhill earlier this month," Ms Kealy said

Ms Kealy said the decision to continue to allow Melbourne-based door-to-door calls was baffling, particularly after coronavirus cases surged in the the capital city two weeks ago.

She said one example was a person from the suburb of Truganina, a known COVID-19 hotspot, offering lighting installations in Horsham.

"These sorts of activities should have been suspended months ago when the first round of COVID-19 restrictions were introduced," Ms Kealy said.

"The fact they weren't was an oversight that increased the health risks for people in our region, and could have led to disastrous consequences.

"We are all doing our best to follow restrictions, so it's completely wrong that people were allowed to travel from Melbourne or other areas to our doorsteps and potentially spread COVID-19 into our community."

The Essential Services Commission is investigating the dumping.

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