Onsite auction ban back again in Melbourne COVID-19 hotspots

Public auctions and open for inspections have been banned once again in Melbourne’s coronavirus hotspots.

Onsite auction sale will be banned in the affected areas from Thursday as stage three Victorian government restrictions are reinstated until at least July 29. 

Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said the industry would be affected. 

The stage three restrictions meant vendors in the 10 affected postcodes would have to revert auctions online or change to a private sale.

Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews has announced that businesses in these businesses re-entering quarantine status will receive some financial compensation for complying with the government mandate by staying closed longer than the rest of the state and country. 

In an effort to control community transmissions of the deadly virus Andrews has ordered some reopening businesses to once again close their doors. 

It is not known yet if estate agencies will qualify given their partial capacity to carry on.

Victoria has reported double-digit growth of positive Covid-19 cases in the last two weeks, including the fourth and fifth-highest daily increases since the pandemic started. It’s “very clearly…not where we wanted to be,” said Andrews.

With stricter and more enduring lockdown measures than any other state, many Victorian businesses were already left financially bruised from the first lockdown.

“The businesses and facilities in these areas that have been able to recently reopen – from beauty parlours to gyms to libraries to swimming pools – will again be restricted. Cafes and restaurants will again only be open for take-away and delivery,” said Andrews. 

“We know this will have a very real impact on local businesses trading in these communities. We’ll help them get through this with an initial $5,000 in dedicated support for businesses previously eligible for a Business Support Fund grant or a payroll tax refund,” said Andrew. 

Businesses in “Restricted Postcodes” can apply for the $5,000 grant: