Sheed concerned by confusion over border permits

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed MP is seeking clarity for farmers and agricultural workers in the Greater Shepparton region regarding their eligibility to travel across the Victorian/NSW border.

“I’m disappointed by the current confusion and our local farmers and agricultural workers will be wanting answers,” Ms Sheed said.

“On Tuesday, following an announcement by the NSW government, we were left with the impression permits would be available on a case-by-case basis. Then suddenly yesterday, those from Greater Shepparton and Greater Bendigo had their eligibility cast into doubt.”

Liaising with the Victorian Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes, Ms Sheed has been trying to unravel what the rules are for affected constituents in the Greater Shepparton local government area.

“Since the borders closed my office has fielded many queries and stories of significant hardship. Farmers who cannot access their stock and land across the border in NSW. Farmers who cannot source their regular supplies of feed. Workers who cannot get to their employers’ farms,” Ms Sheed said.

“We have heard accounts of farmers being told to fly their stock and feed to Sydney to get it into NSW.

“While we all recognise the need for movement restrictions to overcome the spread of COVID-19, what is disappointing is the uncertainty many are operating under when the rules of these restrictions are not communicated clearly and effectively.

“To have news at the start of the week that permits will be granted only to be contradicted later in the week is causing unnecessary confusion for those operating in one of our most critical industries.”

Urging anyone affected to contact her office, Ms Sheed said she would fight to have every instance of hardship recognised by the Victorian and NSW state governments.

“Please contact my office if you have been impacted by either the closures or the confusion over permit eligibility. While we cannot guarantee to get you a NSW permit, we can guarantee your issue will be brought to Victorian minister’s office. We can guarantee that those enforcing these rules are aware of the impact they are having and I will fight for changes to be made where necessary.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.com.au

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Sheed demands Aged Care support for region

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Independent Member for the Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has demanded the Federal Government audits aged care facilities in her electorate and establish the levels of preparedness in the event of a coronavirus outbreak.

“I’ve consulted widely with our aged care sector and I am not at all happy about what I’m hearing,” Ms Sheed said.

“Staffing is a critical issue. We could not fill all our local health positions before the pandemic and this situation has been greatly exacerbated by both the virus and the restriction measures.”

Many aged care facilities in the Shepparton District share staff and there exists little in the way of a reserve should a site’s workforce be required to isolate, according to Ms Sheed.

“We have more than 20 staff in isolation and any further loses in this skilled workforce will be felt across the region.”

The number of duty nurses in facilities has also reduced over the last decade placing extra pressure on the wider health system, according to Ms Sheed.

“We have an already stressed sector and as the tragic pattern in Melbourne and wider Australia has shown, once the virus gets into an aged care home the results are quickly tragic. We have seen four consecutive days of record deaths in Victoria with many of those deaths coming from aged care,” she said.

“I have contacted the Federal Minister for Aged Care Richard Colbeck and warned him in no uncertain terms of the perilous situation here in my electorate. I have asked that the minister audit our region as a matter of urgency and appoint a co-ordinator to oversee the task.

“Should an outbreak occur and our aged care sector buckle under the pressure as it has elsewhere, the Federal Government will have been well warned.

“These are some of the most vulnerable members of our community and I must speak up for them.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.com.au

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Sheed sounds warning over Melbourne travellers breaching lockdown

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Independent Member for the Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has sounded a warning over numerous reports of Melbourne-based travellers breaching the lock-down rules and reportedly entering the Shepparton district.

“Every day my office fields calls from constituents complaining they have seen evidence of people from Melbourne coming into our region against the lock-down restrictions,” Ms Sheed said.

“We have reports of unnecessary shopping trips and real estate agents worried about requests for property inspections. Shop workers are reporting being given metropolitan post codes. I am very worried by the volume of these reports.”

Critically, Ms Sheed is concerned over the impact these alleged breaches may have on the local aged-care industry.

“We are a very close community and so far, we have been doing well to keep our frail and elderly safe from the virus. Our infection rate is one of the lowest in the state,” Ms Sheed said.

“The idea that COVID-19 could enter our aged-care sector is terrifying, and it would be a shocking thing if that infection is brought in by people from Melbourne breaking the law.”

Ms Sheed has contacted Minister for Police Lisa Neville to voice her concerns and request that it be ensured police in the Shepparton district are adequately resourced and enforcing lock-down rules on visitors from metropolitan regions.

“The Victorian Government has given police considerable powers to deal with those who, for whatever reason, are failing to do the right thing. These powers are meant to protect communities such as mine which have to-date avoided the worst of this pandemic. I have sought assurances from the Minister that the measures will be enforced,” Ms Sheed said.

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.com.au

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Sheed warns local businesses will close without JobKeeper changes

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Independent Member for the Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed MP has called on the Federal Government to change JobKeeper 2.0 eligibility requirements for regional Victoria, warning the economic outcome will be dire without more latitude.

“Unless we can get a better set of rules in place for the new JobKeeper provisions at the end of September, I’m hearing from local businesses that some will not be able to survive the latest round of lock-downs,” Ms Sheed said.

Under current arrangements, the JobKeeper extension will be based on turnover in the June and September quarters for 2020.

“Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg hinted this morning that the Commonwealth Government is open to changing that to just the September quarter for businesses and not-for-profits in light of these new lock-downs in Victoria,” Ms Sheed said.

“No-one would deny that Victorian businesses are suffering more than any other in the country due to the latest outbreak and the necessary need for lock-down measures which I fully support.

“But it also needs to be acknowledged that many of us in regional Victoria are effectively collateral damage for what is going on in Melbourne. Greater Shepparton has one active case and my community has shown a fierce respect for the social distancing rules and lock-down measures which are clearly working here.”

Stage Three lockdown rules due to be enforced in Greater Shepparton later in the week will have a devastating effect on the local economy, according to Ms Sheed.

“We already have the highest unemployment rate in regional Victoria. Our local economy has been severely impacted by the first round of lock-downs. We need all the support we can get and easing the JobKeeper 2.0 eligibility requirements is one of the most obvious and easiest to implement.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.com.au

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5 Vaughan Street, Shepparton
T 03 5831 6944
E suzanna.sheed@parliament.vic.gov.au

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Get in touch with Suzanna

Share this page and show your support.

5 Vaughan Street, Shepparton
T 03 5831 6944   F 03 5831 6836
E suzanna.sheed@parliament.vic.gov.au

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