A Victorian MP has called for the Victorian Government to consider splitting regional Victoria into smaller regions to give cross border communities some security.
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Member for Lowan Emma Kealy made the statement after hearing that regional Victoria was set to transition into step three of its COVID-19 reopening plan from midnight Wednesday.
The easing of restrictions will see regional Victorians able to have gatherings of up to 10 people outdoors and up to five visitors from one other household.
However, weddings, funerals and religious gatherings will still remain severely restricted.
Another massive change to restrictions will be the ability for students to return to school from Week 2 of Term 4.
Retail businesses have been one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, and Ms Kealy said they have now being rewarded for weathering the tough restrictions.
"All retail businesses can reopen, including beauty and indoor hospitality - both sectors rewarded after strongly questioning why they were excluded when similar interactions were allowed," she said.
"There's no doubt many business will still struggle, particularly in hospitality which is limited to mainly outdoor service."
Despite regional Victoria taking small steps towards normality, Ms Kealy said she is worried about a future outbreak putting cross-border travel concessions at risk.
"Of most concern to me today (September 15) was the Premier remarking that the SA Premier has flagged concerns that an outbreak in the current huge region of 'Regional Victoria' could put cross-border travel concessions at risk, and so smaller regions may need to be considered in the future.
Ms Kealy pleaded to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to get on the front foot and "cut" regional Victoria into smaller regions "immediately".
She stated that the decision would give cross-border community members some security that the border won't be slammed shut again.
"I don't think that's too much to ask," Ms Kealy stated.
Taylor Harvey
Taylor is the lone journalist at the Border Chronicle, which serves as a news medium for residents of the Tatiara. This is his first job in the field after completing his study at the University of Adelaide.
Taylor is the lone journalist at the Border Chronicle, which serves as a news medium for residents of the Tatiara. This is his first job in the field after completing his study at the University of Adelaide.
