Border force: police to monitor movement

With greater restrictions now in force in Melbourne, there is increased concern that some might try to escape and head to their holiday homes.

There won’t be a “ring of steel” to stop people travelling between Melbourne and regional areas.

However a government spokesperson told the Advertiser police will be out in force monitoring the regional and metropolitan Melbourne border.

“Victoria Police are now also dedicating hundreds of extra resources to conduct checks and community compliance across Melbourne, so we can limit the movement of people and slow the spread of this virus.”

The government has called on everyone to abide by the restrictions, with Premier Daniel Andrews saying he was angry about breaches in Melbourne over the weekend, describing them as “shitty choices”.

People from Melbourne cannot travel to regional areas without a permit.

“This delta variant can spread throughout the community very quickly and we must remain vigilant so we can run this outbreak to ground and protect the freedoms that regional Victorians are enjoying today,” a government spokesperson said.

Local businesses have reported turning away people who do not live locally, and issues with customers who refuse to wear masks.

“The restrictions across Victoria are designed to keep the community safe and reduce the risk of transmission,” the government spokesperson said.

“Our message is clear – anyone who breaches the Chief Health Officer Directions risks an on the spot fine.”

While people who are at their holiday home can return home to their primary residence (ie their usual home), they cannot travel back and forth between them.

People in regional areas like Bass Coast will need proof of their place of residence, such as a driver’s licence or signing a statutory declaration confirming they have been at their second residence since the start of the Melbourne lockdown.

Victoria Police and Authorised Officers can issue on the spot fines of up to $1817 for individuals and up to $10,904 for businesses for refusing or failing to comply with directions. Anyone who fails to wear a mask can also be fined $200.

A $5452 fine can be issued for anyone found breaching gatherings directions in the home or outside, or for anyone who breaches the requirement to isolate or quarantine under a direction from the Department of Health.

While restrictions have been eased in regional Victoria, masks are mandatory outside of the house, and there are still no visitors allowed to your home.

A summary of the current restrictions in regional Victoria is available at www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/how-we-live-information-regional-victoria