The Victorian Government must establish roadblocks on the Great Ocean Road to stop an onslaught of holiday traffic this Easter.
Despite strict stay at home restrictions, I fear that many Victorians will still head down the Great Ocean Road and to coastal towns, putting the lives of local residents at risk.
As the Prime Minister has repeatedly reiterated, this Easter, Australians must stay at home.
Roadblocks would give police the best opportunity of checking that people travelling down the Great Ocean Road are permitted to do so.
All Victorians must stay at home unless they are leaving to access essential supplies, for medical advice, for work or education, or exercise.
Full details can be found at https://www.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions-victoria
The stay at home restrictions in Victoria mean that people may travel to any second home they may own but renting holiday accomodation or staying in caravan parks are not permitted.
Anyone seeking to rent out holiday accommodation, including on the Airbnb platform, is inducing others to break the law.
Surfers have been warned they cannot travel outside their postcode to surf and must follow all social distancing restrictions, in and out of the water.
I have received numerous complaints that holiday makers are causing considerable stress in coastal communities including in compromising the supply of food in local supermarkets.
While our nation is performing relatively well in flattening the coronavirus curve, some 39 Australians have already died and more deaths are expected.
Together, we must do everything we can to get through this crisis and out the other side.
So this Easter, please do the right thing and stay at home.
8 April 2020