STATEMENT FROM THE ACTING PREMIER

(Written on 27 May 2021)

On the advice of our public health team, Victoria will move to circuit breaker restrictions from 11:59pm tonight (27 May 2021). These settings will remain in place until 11:59pm on 3 June – but if we can end that sooner, we will.

As we've seen here, and across Australia, this kind of short, sharp action is effective in stopping this thing in its tracks.

Our public health experts’ prime concern: just how fast the B1.617.1 variant is moving. 

Overseas, they haven’t been able to track how quickly this version of the virus can move. Here in Victoria, though, we’re seeing not only how quick it is – but how contagious it is too.

Our contract tracers are identifying and locking down first ring, second ring and third ring contacts within 24 hours. That’s faster than ever. And yet this variant is still moving faster.  

The time between catching the virus and passing it on is tighter than ever. The ‘serial interval’ – how long it takes between the onset of symptoms in the first and secondary case – is in many cases just over a day.  

And in just 24 hours, the number of cases has doubled. 

It means that although these cases are all connected, this variant of the virus is making people more infectious, more quickly. 

We’ve seen other countries come up against these variants and lose. Badly. Places like Taiwan that have gone from no or very low cases to skyrocketing numbers in the space of just days and weeks – and now are struggling to get it under control.

We also know our nation’s vaccine rollout has been slower than we’d hoped. And if more people were vaccinated, we might be facing a different set of circumstances. Sadly, were not.

If we make the wrong choice now, if we wait too long, if we hesitate too much, this thing will get away from us. And lives will be at risk. 
It’s why from 11:59pm tonight, there will be five reasons to leave home:

Food and supplies. Authorised work. Care and caregiving. Exercise, for up to two hours and with one other person. And getting vaccinated.

Exercise and shopping will be limited to five kilometres from home. If there’s no shops in your 5km radius, you can travel to the ones closest to you. Shopping is also limited to one person per day, per household. 

Face masks will also need to be worn inside and outdoors – everywhere except your own home.

Private and public gatherings will not be permitted, although visiting your intimate partner continues to be okay. Single person bubbles will also be allowed.

Childcare and kinder will remain open, but schools will need to close other than for the children of authorised workers and vulnerable kids. 

Shops like supermarkets, food stores, bottle shops, banks, petrol stations and pharmacies will also remain open. Cafes and restaurants will be able to offer take-away only. Gyms, hairdressers, community facilities and entertainment venues will all close. Non-essential retail may only open for click and collect.

Hotels and accommodation can only stay open to support guests already staying onsite. No new bookings can be made – unless it’s for one a permitted purpose, like authorised work.  

Advice on who can open, and who can’t, will be made available online ahead of directions coming into place – as will the full list of authorised workers and workplaces.

It’s clear – more than ever – this virus isn’t going away. And vaccines are the only way we’ll ever get back to normal.
Without full vaccination, this virus will just keep mutating – and just keep making its way back in. 

To that end, from tomorrow and dependent upon supply from the Federal Government, all Victorians over the age of 40 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. 

My message to those Victorians: if you’re eligible, get vaccinated. Make your plan today.  

If someone you love is eligible, make a plan together.  

Do it for yourself. Your family. Your friends. Your community. Whatever your motivation – please do it. 

Because vaccination is our only real ticket out of this pandemic.

BUSINESS SUPPORT PACKAGE

The Victorian Government is backing businesses most affected by the seven-day circuit breaker action, including operators in the hospitality, retail, events and creative industries with further targeted support.

Victorians and Victorian businesses are doing the hard thing, but the right thing - keeping their doors shut to keep all of us safe.

That’s why we are announcing a $250.7 million Circuit Breaker Business Support Package to help up to 90,000 Victorian businesses that have been affected by the restrictions that will run until 11:59pm on Thursday, 3 June.

The package features three initiatives for small to medium-sized businesses and sole traders. 

The $190.01 million second round of the Business Costs Assistance Program will offer grants of $2,500 for eligible businesses directly affected by the circuit-breaker industry restrictions, including restaurants and cafes, event suppliers, accommodation providers and non-essential retailers. 

A $40.7 million new round of the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund will provide businesses holding an eligible liquor licence and food certificate with a $3,500 grant per premises.  

An allocation of $20 million will be dedicated to supporting operators in the events industry who have incurred losses due to the circuit-breaker restrictions, with more details to be provided shortly.

Businesses can register their interest in the Business Costs Assistance Program at business.vic.gov.au, so they can be notified when applications open this week. Operators eligible for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund payment will be contacted directly by email.

The new package builds on more than $6 billion in direct economic support from the Labor Government to help businesses get through the pandemic, including through three rounds of the Business Support Fund.  

More information about the Circuit Breaker Business Support Package is available at business.vic.gov.au. 

CORONAVIRUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Workers who need to get tested and isolate while waiting for results, or workers who are required to isolate because they test positive, or have been directed to isolate by the Department of Health because they are a close contact, may be entitled to support payments.

$450 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test Isolation Payment (Victorian Government) 

Victorian workers can apply for a $450 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test Isolation Payment that provides financial support while they self-isolate to wait for the results of a coronavirus (COVID-19) test.

$1,500 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment (Federal Government) 

You may be eligible if the Victorian Department of Health or one of their agents has told you to self-isolate or quarantine. They need to give you these directions for any of the following reasons:

• you have coronavirus (COVID-19)
• you’ve been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19
• you care for a child, 16 years or under, who has COVID-19
• you care for a child, 16 years or under, who’s been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19.

You may also be eligible if you're caring for someone who has COVID-19.
For more information including elibibility criteria, please visit the links below. 

Relief packages 

If you need to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 you may be supported with a relief package delivered by the Australian Red Cross. Relief packages contain basic essential food and personal care items to last a four-person household for two weeks.
Delivery of a free relief package can be arranged for people who are unable to access food themselves who do not have support available to them.

If you have dietary or cultural requirements, require personal care items or practical support, other support is available.

To access a relief package while isolating, call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 and select Option four (4).

Food relief

Food relief is available during the pandemic for people who are experiencing financial hardship and are voluntarily isolating because of a health condition or age. 

Extreme Hardship Support Program

The Extreme Hardship Support Program can provide financial assistance, information and referrals to people living in Victoria who are experiencing significant hardship as a result of COVID-19 and who are unable to access Australian Government income support. The program provides support for temporary and provisional visa holders and undocumented migrants with little or no income, savings or community support.

COVIDSAFE DEEP CLEANING REBATE

The Victorian Government’s COVIDSafe Deep Cleaning Rebate remains open to support eligible small and medium-sized businesses where anyone onsite has been suspected or confirmed to have coronavirus (COVID-19).

The rebate helps eligible businesses cover the cost of hiring professional cleaning services to conduct a deep or decontamination clean of their worksite.

The rebate will cover up to 80 per cent of a business’ cleaning costs, capped at a grant of $10,000 (for a total cleaning cost of $12,500).

This will help businesses prevent further transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) at their worksite, and reduce out-of-pocket cleaning expenses.

For detailed criteria and to apply, please see business.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/covid-safe-deep-cleaning-rebate.

WELLBEING SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS

Through Partners in Wellbeing, Victorians dealing with the challenges of running a small business can get the mental health support they need to navigate through the impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19).
 
Small business owners and employees can call the Partners in Wellbeing telephone helpline 1300 375 330 (Monday to Friday 9am–10pm, Saturday to Sunday 9am–5pm). The service provides one-to-one wellbeing support and free access to financial counsellors and business advisors.
 
Mental health specialists are also embedded in industry and business associations to provide members with immediate access to expert advisors and on-the-job training for staff to identify and respond to people in distress

• $266.224 million to meet unavoidable ambulance demand and drive performance improvement.
• $204.269 million for ambulance sustainability to fund ongoing operational improvements including the 117 paramedics deployed last year.
• $89 million to improve flow in our Emergency Departments and facilitate faster transfer between ambulances and health services including the more emergency department staff.
• $65 million for commissioning new facilities in St Vincent’s on the Park, Sunshine Emergency Department and Barwon.
• $135 million to open additional beds in our health services and the associated workforce required to support these facilities.

VICTORIAN ROAD SAFETY ACTION PLAN

The Andrews Labor Government is investing in the state’s first Road Safety Action Plan so more Victorians make it home safely every day.

The plan will focus on cohorts of Victorians who either experience or cause harm on our roads, including dangerous drivers, people who work on the roads, and vulnerable groups like young people, motorcyclists, pedestrians and the elderly.

The Victorian Budget 2021/22 invests $385.8 million over four years to deliver the plan through new safety infrastructure, strategies to increase public awareness and innovative programs to protect our most vulnerable road users.

Frequent and high-risk offenders will be targeted through reviews of drink and drug driving laws and penalties, the development of new vehicle immobilising technologies, and new approaches to address the root causes of high-risk traffic offending.

The action plan will see 35 additional speed and red-light cameras installed at high-risk intersections and two new networks of cameras on freeways to deter dangerous driving like speeding – which contributes to 30 per cent of fatal crashes on Victorian roads.

The plan will includes initiatives to protect and increase public awareness of those at highest risk on our roads – like food delivery riders, roadside workers, cyclists and pedestrians, while work to keep Victorian kids safe around schools will continue, with $41.1 million to support the School Crossing Supervisor Program for the next two years.

The Labor Government is also working in partnership with the Commonwealth to deliver better road safety infrastructure across Melbourne and regional Victoria – with more road sealing, rumble strips, electronic speed sign upgrades and safety barriers to make every journey safer.

Victoria's first Road Safety Action Plan is being delivered under the new Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which sets ambitious targets to halve road deaths and significantly reduce serious injuries by 2030 and sets the state on a path to zero road deaths by 2050.

• establishing five new rapid access clinics for people with atrial fibrillation (irregular/rapid heartbeat)
• trialling a digital cardiac rehabilitation service in five health services
• creating a rural network for help in interpreting ECGs at urgent care centres, and
• expanding the uptake of screening for cardiovascular disease and link people at risk to appropriate risk reduction programs.

HAVE YOUR SAY ON WERRIBEE'S NEW AND IMPROVED PARKS

Parks improve people’s health and wellbeing – including by reducing social isolation – and are really important for our environment as well.

That's why we're delivering a new 340 hectare regional park in Werribee - the equivalent of 160 AFL fields of open space.

And it's why we're updating and improving the existing Werribee River Regional Park, too.

The parks are part of the $154 million Suburban Parks Program, which will provide 6500 hectares of new and upgraded, accessible green space for growing communities like ours in Wyndham.

From May to June, you're invited to share your ideas and have your say on what these new and improved local parks will look like.

Consultations close Thursday 27 June 2021. 

To give your input or to find out more about upcoming community information sessions, visit engage.vic.gov.au/western-regional-parks.

2021 VICTORIAN LANDCARE GRANTS NOW OPEN

The 2021 Victorian Landcare Grants are now open. $2.55 million is available for environmental groups in your electorate for on-ground works and operating costs.
 
These grants form part of our $7.4 million Community Environment Grants package that preserve our environment and support our government’s plan – Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037.

Applications close Wednesday 16 June 2021.  

For more information, please visit environment.vic.gov.au/grants/victorian-landcare-grants.

2021 VICTORIAN LANDCARE AWARDS - NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

The 2021 Victorian Landcare Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate and honour Landcare champions from your local electorate.

The Awards celebrate groups and individuals from across the state who are excelling in conservation, environmental protection and sustainable agricultural practices.
 
The Victorian ceremony will be held in September 2021, with the Victorian winners from national categories heading to the 2022 National Landcare Awards.
 
Nominations close Wednesday 30 June 2021.

For more information, visit landcarevic.org.au.

VICTORIAN EARLY YEARS AWARDS NOMINATION OPEN

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Victorian Early Years Awards which celebrate the exceptional contributions that individuals and organisations are making to improve the lives of Victorian children and their families.
 
In 2021, the awards will celebrate the achievements and commitment of early childhood professionals across seven award categories, including improving access and participation, supporting parents and promoting children’s health and wellbeing, as well as the prestigious Early Childhood Teacher of the Year.
 
Award winners in each category will receive up to $15,000 to further develop and share the lessons of their exceptional work in kindergartens, schools, local councils, maternal child and health services and other early years organisations across the state. T

he finalists and winners in each category are also eligible to win the prestigious Minister’s Award, selected by the Minister for Early Childhood.
 
Nominations for the awards close on Monday 14 June 2021.

For more information or to submit a nomination, visit education.vic.gov.au/veya.   

LEARN LOCAL AWARDS 2021 

Nominations for the 2021 Learn Local Awards are now open! 

Learn Locals deliver Adult Community Education across Victoria. They offer great courses in areas such as literacy and numeracy, introductory computer skills, hospitality, photography and horticulture, just to name a few. 

Learn Locals are so important in helping Victorians from all backgrounds develop the skills needed for work and further study.

If you are a Learn Local provider or a student who has studied at one recently, consider nominating for a Learn Local Award.

More information can be found at education.vic.gov.au/about/awards/Pages/learnlocal.aspx.

Nominations close Friday 13 August 2021.

There are over 270 Learn Locals in Victoria. Find out more about studying at one in 2021 at learnlocal.org.au.

GET ACTIVE KIDS PROGRAM - ROUND TWO

Round two of the Andrews Labor Government's Get Active Kids Vouchers Program is now open for applications.

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and recreation activities by reimbursing the cost of membership and registration fees, uniforms and equipment. Eligible children may be able to receive up to $200 each.

The current round will close on Friday 9 July 2021.

For more information, visit getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers.