Ms Staley said declining case numbers showed regional Victoria was ready to "open up" again, easing the toll on rural businesses and community members.

"The regions are ready to open up, and the data shows that. We haven't had any new cases for a long time. It's almost 14 days for most of country Victoria," she told the Mail-Times.

"I'm not trying to second guess what the advice is. What I am saying is it's not fair to have all of Victoria counted together when it's clear that there are big areas where are there no cases.

"We're talking big, big regions, that have met the criteria."

COVID-19 UPDATE: WHCG 'disappointed' to turn away people wanting COVID tests

As of Friday morning, there were 72 active cases in regional Victoria and two active cases in the Wimmera - both in the Horsham Rural City Council local government area.

The most recent active case in Horsham was reported on September 4, after a resident welcomed a visitor from Melbourne.

Ms Staley acknowledged there were still active cases in the Wimmera, but said the region would be in a position to exit lockdown as soon as 14 days had passed since the new case in Horsham was recorded.

"I'm not being stupid about this. If there's an outbreak we don't get to open up," she said.

"We don't have the virus in our communities and we won't once Horsham gets to 14 days.

"I'm not second-guessing (the government's) modelling. It's just not fair that 14 days is applied in the hotspots of Melbourne and also in Donald, or in Wycheproof, or towns that have never had a case."

MAKING NEWS ACROSS THE WIMMERA:

As shadow treasurer, Ms Staley said she had been contacted by many businesses who were fighting for survival under stage three restrictions.

"I have not seen on the one hand so much despair, and on the other hand, anger. Businesses believed that they were going to see a path to reopening. Not a path that keeps them locked down until the end of November. They are devastated," she said.

"I think it's clear when you go down the main streets of our towns; there are a lot of for rent signs. Unfortunately, we will see more of that. There will be many businesses that do no make it out the other side.

"This will permanently damage towns."

EXPLAINER: What are the COVID steps and how do we advance?

Ms Staley believed it was important regional Victorians were allowed to live normal lives, as much as COVID-19 allowed.

"We have to live again. The COVID normal people talk about is living normal lives while COVID exists," she said.

"It's not living with most of our businesses closed. Our kids not in school. No community sport going on. No religious services.

"All those things are part of our communities."

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