A bizarre COVIDSafe rule has led to some Victorian residents seemingly being forced to display a QR code outside their homes by their body corporate.
The stringent regulation appears to require residents living in units, flats, townhouses and residential apartment buildings to have a QR code system, so all visitors - including family, friends and tradespeople - can check-in on arrival.
The strange rule has left some residents dumbfounded and out of pocket after they were forced to pay for the QR code.
Even Acting Premier James Merlino admitted today he was unsure of the regulations around the technicality.
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The Victorian Premier’s Iftar Dinner was a symbol of multiculturalism at its finest, with representatives from all faiths in attendance. I had the privilege of being seated beside Minister Melissa Horne along with a senior Jewish rabbi and Imam Shykh Mohammad Ramzan, amongst many others.
This is the seventh year the dinner is being held, though last year it was organised in COVID-19 fashion as an online event.
In the speeches by the Acting Premier James Merlino and Victoria’s Multicultural Affairs Minister Ros Spence, reference was made to the importance of diversity and difference and how these ideals are important in making our state such a vibrant and welcoming place. Mr Merlino also noted how much he enjoyed his work as the state’s Education Minister by visiting schools and seeing so many smiling faces at school assembly all from so many different parts of the world.
In a great start towards net zero emissions by 2050, the Victorian Government recently released their Climate Change Strategy, committing to halving greenhouse emissions by 2030.
But is it enough? Climate scientists are urging Australia to do more to reduce emissions and to do it quicker if we’re going to avert dangerous global warming. In fact, a recent Climate Council report claims achieving net zero emissions by 2050 is at least a decade too late.
We think the Victorian government has the legal mandate to do more. But we also recognise that ambitious climate action at the state level is hindered by a lack of commitment at the federal level.
Michaela Meade
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he “welcomes” the state government’s proposal for a 500-bed COVID-19 quarantine hub in Mickleham.
Last week, Acting Premier James Merlino announced a site on Donnybrook Road was the state government’s preferred location for the hub for returned travellers.
The site is next to the existing federal government-owned Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility.
Construction of the quarantine hub in Mickleham is subject to federal approval and funding. The state government estimates that the facility will cost $200 million to construct.
The state government has provided $15 million to design the hub.
Star Weekly was contacted by many community members who opposed the announcement.