Federal Treasurer questions Victoria’s reopening rules

As COVID-19 restrictions ease in Victoria, the Federal Treasurer has questioned why the state isn’t opening up more.

With the state hitting the 70 per cent double-dose vaccine target yesterday, the five reasons to leave home have been dropped, as have the travel limits (but metropolitan residents must say in Melbourne and regional residents must stay in regional Victoria), and hospitality has reopened.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg noted Victoria “has less freedoms than NSW did at the same vaccination rate”.

“For example, indoor retail is open in NSW, it’s not as yet in Victoria [also] indoor cinemas, gyms, pools,” he told Neil Mitchell.

Mr Frydenberg says expert advice suggests Victoria could open up more.

“It was really pleasing to see during the week too that two of Australia’s leading medical experts … Professor Nick Coatesworth … but also Professor Catherine Bennett, both were saying that in NSW and Victoria they’re similar enough to move out of lockdown at the same vaccination rates and at the same pace,” he said.

But the Treasurer says he’s confident “our economy can bounce back strongly”.

“This reopening, hopefully, sees no turning back.”

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