Gippsland › Latest news › Peter Walsh MP
Virus escapes Melbourne without a Trace
Asymptomatic testing wasn’t offered to customers who were potentially exposed to a Melbourne virus outbreak.
Labor Health Minister Martin Foley can’t explain why asymptomatic testing wasn’t offered to customers who were potentially exposed to a Melbourne virus outbreak that’s now spread to regional Victoria.
Mr Foley was asked in State Parliament today if he agreed with CHO Brett Sutton that asymptomatic testing for customers of Chadstone’s Butchers Club wasn’t "value for money", despite it being offered in Kilmore.
Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh slammed the Minister for refusing to take responsibility and failing to properly fund testing efforts.
"Daniel Andrews promised Victorians he would fix testing and contact tracing but failures have led to new coronavirus outbreaks across regional Victoria," Mr Walsh said.
"It doesn’t make sense that asymptomatic customers at the Kilmore café attended by the infected Melbourne diner were allowed to be tested for COVID-19, but those at the Butchers Club – the original source of the outbreak – were not.
"To say asymptomatic testing isn’t ‘value for money’ is a slap in the face to every regional Victorian who has lost their job, closed their business or turned their own life upside-down due to COVID restrictions.
"Hundreds of regional Victorians in Kilmore and Shepparton have stepped up to be tested, but the sad fact is we wouldn’t be here if the Andrews Labor Government had done its job protecting our communities."
The outbreaks have increased regional Victoria’s 14-day average to 0.6.
"The Andrews Labor Government’s failure to fund proper testing at Chadstone allowed this virus to spread to Kilmore and now Shepparton stopping regional Victoria from going to the Last Step," Mr Walsh said.
"Testing rates across Victoria have been decreasing. The Premier should doing everything he can to increase testing rates, not cherry-picking who does and doesn’t get tested.
"It’s no wonder Victoria is still being crippled by the Andrews Labor Government’s second wave when it still can’t get the basics right.
"Regional Victorians deserve to know why we’re now staring down the barrel of worsening outbreaks that threaten to keep our businesses closed longer and wind back the progress we’d made towards COVID normal."
Source: www.gippsland.com
Published by: support@gippsland.com
Latest News
ANZAC Day events across South Gippsland and other shire council updatesGippsland students urged to enter National Water Week poster contest by 6 September 2024
Have your say and help develop Trafalgar Structure Plan through online survey by 20 May 2024
Stay vigilant and report scams to IDCare on 1800595160 as over 500,000 Aussies lose $3B in 2022
Tim Bull visits Gallipoli and honours fallen locals such as Basil Hooper, Vern Brookes, Thomas Bell, and Thomas Haylock
Community feedback needed for East Gippsland Shire Council Draft 2024/25 Budget by 29 May 2024
Fresh food tax criticised by industry as lack of clarity on payment and collection will harm families and farmers
Russell Broadbent seeks answers to 20% increase in cardiac arrests by advocating investigation to include vaccine mandates
East Gippsland Shire Council highlights telecommunications infrastructure when advocating over thirty goals for community resilience and development
Russell Broadbent addresses nationwide Covid injustices-rights breaches, lockdowns, mandates and waste of $577B on vaccine and tests