Premier Daniel Andrews said there would be no turning back and the statewide lockdowns had to end when he unveiled the plan towards what he described a cautious easing of restrictions. The easing is based on reaching an 80 per cent double-dosed vaccination rate, underpinned by detailed modelling about projected COVID-19 case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths.

The premier said the numbers were alarming. Burnett Institute modelling commissioned by the government forecast the state would reach a peak of between 1400 to 2900 daily COVID-19 cases between October 19 and 31, based on current numbers.

This would lead to a peak of between 1200 to 2500 Victorians requiring hospitalisation, including between 260 and 550 requiring an intensive care bed. The modelling found a significant easing of restrictions once 80 per cent were fully vaccinated meant an almost two-in-three chance of a second epidemic peak in mid-December, which would push hospitalisations over 2500.

That's why the government wants as many people as possible to get vaccinated. It's why it has mandated vaccinations for certain workforces, teachers, nurses and construction workers. The response from metropolitan construction workers was appalling with riots and violent marches, which have rightly been condemned.

Regional hospitality businesses have widely criticised the rules concerning their operations. The regional construction industry doesn't even have a roadmap.

But as we asked today, what was the basis for the extremely cautious regional Victorian roadmap? Metropolitan modelling was done but it appears none for regional Victoria. Why? The health department argued there were insufficient regional case numbers to model. It's easy to wonder if the settings governing our lives and businesses should be significantly different. That in turn makes it hard not to think regional Victorians have been ignored.