Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews announced that businesses in ten postcodes are required to return to Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions until at least the end of the month due to rising Covid-19 cases. Businesses re-entering quarantine status will receive some financial compensation for complying with the government mandate by staying closed longer than the rest of the state and country.
In an effort to control community transmissions of the deadly virus Andrews has ordered some reopening businesses to once again close their doors. Victoria has reported double-digit growth of positive Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks, including the fourth and fifth-highest daily increases since the pandemic started. It’s “very clearly…not where we wanted to be,” said Andrews.
With stricter and more enduring lockdown measures than any other state, many Victorian businesses were already left financially bruised from the first lockdown. The easing of restrictions in late June allowed many businesses to reopen for the first time in months and revenue started returning. But for businesses operating in “hot zones”, the lockdown will live on.
“The businesses and facilities in these areas that have been able to recently reopen – from beauty parlours to gyms to libraries to swimming pools – will again be restricted. Cafes and restaurants will again only be open for take-away and delivery,” said Andrews.
Andrews is keenly aware of the financial struggles faced by many small businesses in the new lockdown zones and hopes to alleviate some of the hardship through grants.
“We know this will have a very real impact on local businesses trading in these communities. We’ll help them get through this with an initial $5,000 in dedicated support for businesses previously eligible for a Business Support Fund grant or a payroll tax refund,” said Andrew.
Businesses in “Restricted Postcodes” can apply for the $5,000 grant:
| Postcode | Suburbs |
| 3012 | Brooklyn, Kingsville, Maidstone, Tottenham, West Footscray |
| 3021 | Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park, St Albans |
| 3032 | Ascot Vale, Highpoint City, Maribyrnong, Travancore |
| 3038 | Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Taylors Lakes, Watergardens |
| 3042 | Airport West, Keilor Park, Niddrie |
| 3046 | Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park |
| 3047 | Broadmeadows, Dallas , Jacana |
| 3055 | Brunswick south, Brunswick west, Moonee vale, Moreland west |
| 3060 | Fawkner |
| 3064 | Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickelham, Roxburgh Park, Kalkallo |
Failures in the state’s hotel quarantine program are at least partially to blame for the spike in active cases in the city. Andrew has ordered an official inquiry into the program’s operations, calling the outbreaks circumstance’s “disappointing”.
