A quick summary of all the Victorian news you need to know on Monday 28 March.
Premier Daniel Andrews catches Covid
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has tested positive to Covid and will isolate for the next seven days.
The deputy premier, James Merlino, will take over as acting premier until next Monday.
I woke up today with some symptoms and did a RAT before heading to the office. It was positive.
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) March 28, 2022
Cath and the kids are negative, but as close contacts will isolate with me for seven days. pic.twitter.com/V2d3RUjvOE
In a statement, Andrews said he took a rapid antigen test after developing “mild symptoms”.
“After developing mild symptoms this morning including a sore throat and mild temperature, I undertook a rapid antigen test,” Andrews said.
“I have tested positive to Covid-19 and will now isolate for the next seven days.
“So far, Cath and the kids have tested negative. As they are close contacts, they will also isolate for the next seven days.”
The positive test result means Andrews will be unable to attend Wednesday’s state memorial for cricketer Shane Warne.
Smoke affecting air quality in Melbourne and central Victoria
Melbourne’s air quality could become “very poor” on Monday due to prescribed burns happening, according the Environmental Protection Agency.
Air quality forecast update. Fair to Very Poor air quality is expected today in Melbourne and Central regions. Smoke is drifting from planned burns to the east. Other regions can expect Good to Fair air quality. Visit #AirWatch to see your region: https://t.co/uDkpNZxibR pic.twitter.com/i7YbCIoq7X
— EPA Victoria (@EPA_Victoria) March 28, 2022
“Fair to very poor air quality is expected today in Melbourne and central regions,” the EPA said in a forecast.
“Smoke is drifting from planned burns to the east. Some wind-blown dust [is] possible closer to industrial and construction sites.”
According to the EPA, “very poor” air quality means that people should avoid physical activity outdoors if they develop a cough or shortness of breath, and close windows and doors.
In Mooroolbark, in Melbourne’s north-east, “extremely poor” air quality was briefly detected between 10am and 11am Monday.
Funding for freight terminals
The Morrison government has announced that Tuesday’s federal budget will include $3.1bn to support two freight terminals in outer Melbourne.
This includes $1.2bn for a terminal in Beveridge, north of Melbourne, as well as $280m to improve roads to the site.
Another $740m will be included for a terminal in Truganina, in Melbourne’s west, along with $920m for a rail connection to the site.
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, said the $3.3bn to be spent on transport projects across the state would support “more than 6,500 direct and indirect jobs”.
“Continuing to provide record future funding for road and rail projects is a key part of our economic plan for the long term to keep our economy strong,” Morrison said.
However, the Victorian transport infrastructure minister, Jacinta Allan, said $2bn of that funding commitment had previously been announced and “has been sitting around for a full year” without being spent.
“It’s a timely reminder for Victorians that of that $3.3bn, two-thirds of that money was announced last year,” Allan said.
Covid cases steady
Victoria recorded 8,739 new Covid cases and no deaths on Monday.
For the fourth consecutive day, the number of new infections recorded across the state were below 10,000.
The number of Covid patients in Victorian hospitals has fallen to 252. Of those, 21 people are in ICU.
Gender pay gap reaches 37% in the gig economy
As reported by Benita Kolovos earlier on Monday, a new report commissioned by the Victorian government has found women in the gig economy earn up to 37% less than men.
The report, produced by a Queensland University of Technology research team and released on Monday, summarises Australian and global studies and found the gig economy can “both reproduce and exacerbate existing gender inequalities in work”.
According to the report, women in gig economy roles in Australia earn between 10% and 37% less than men.
For the same work, men earned on average $2.67 an hour more than women, though about 40% of gig economy workers do not know what their hourly rate is.
