Daniel Andrews' lockdown laws puts Victoria back on a ledge of fear, doubt and decline. Victorians deserve normality and certainty.
But the legislation passed by the Victorian Parliament simply casts longer shadows of doubt than this state could ever have thought possible.
The laws now hand the Premier and his Health Minister unprecedented powers. It enables his authority and arrogance to grow, even going so far as to say he should be thanked for his pandemic response.
Regional towns like Queenscliff symbolise the trauma caused by the Premier. The shops that have been shut, the staff that have drifted, and now, the return of doubt and diminished confidence.
Queenscliff was one of the first towns in Victoria to hit the 90% double vaccination mark, but its success was dampened by the wait for others to catch up.
In October, crowd restrictions forced the organisers of November's Queenscliff Music Festival to cancel the event for a year. At the same time, the Premier enabled 10,000 people to go to the Melbourne Cup.
Regional hospitality venues are struggling to get staff, all the while forced to act as police at their own front doors. Some businesses are still struggling for promised support payments from the state.
What communities like Queenscliff need is certainty, clear direction and the backing to recover and rebuild.
As stated by Leader of the Opposition, Matthew Guy:
"Victorians need hope. We need government out of our lives and the freedom for normality in our state.
"Queenscliff is not alone. Many regional hotspots will bear the brunt of harsh restrictions long after the pandemic is gone.
"The Andrews Labor Government's lockdown laws puts Victoria back on a ledge of fear, doubt and decline."
