Compensation finally awarded – so no more questions are asked.

CLASS ACTION SETTLED

The Victorian government has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement with thousands of businesses affected by the state’s COVID-19 lockdowns, bringing one of Australia’s most significant pandemic-related class actions to a close – pending court approval.

Under the proposed deal, the government will pay approximately $125 million to resolve claims brought by around 16,000 businesses.

The lawsuit centred on allegations that failures in Victoria’s hotel quarantine system during 2020 led to the state’s ‘second wave’ of COVID-19 infections. Which, in turn, triggered prolonged lockdowns and widespread economic losses.

The class action argued that the quarantine program, introduced to ‘contain the virus’ among returning travellers, was negligently managed.

Claimants contended that breaches in control allowed authorities to impose strict public health restrictions that severely impacted trading conditions across multiple sectors.

Legal representatives have described the outcome as a significant step, though they acknowledged that individual payouts are likely to be modest once the total sum is divided among claimants, legal fees, litigation costs, and administrative expenses.

The settlement doesn’t represent an admission of liability by the state, and that is one thing to note. The government is actually trying to bribe their way out of a real investigation.

This resolution allows them to avoid diverting further public resources into litigation, while continuing to focus on ‘economic recovery’ and ‘future preparedness’.

Not all registered businesses will necessarily receive compensation.

Eligibility criteria and assessment processes will determine how the funds are distributed, with payments expected to vary depending on the nature of each claim.

The proposed settlement must still also be approved by the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Such approval is standard in class action proceedings and is intended to ensure the agreement is fair and reasonable for all parties involved. If endorsed, a formal distribution process will follow, though timelines for payments have yet to be finalised.

The Victorian government has maintained that it acted in the public interest throughout the ‘pandemic’ and chose to settle the matter to avoid the costs, risks, and uncertainty of a lengthy trial. Proceedings had been due to begin shortly before the agreement was reached.

The case is notable for its scale and the legal questions it raised about government accountability during a public health emergency.

It also highlights the broader economic fallout from Australia’s pandemic response, particularly in Victoria, which endured some of the longest lockdowns in the world.

For business owners, the settlement offers some recognition of the financial hardship endured during the COVID years, even if compensation falls short of covering total losses.

Many operators faced months of closures, capacity limits and supply chain disruptions, with some never reopening. The outcome may also influence how similar claims are approached.

The ruling marks a significant moment in the long tail of COVID’s economic and legal consequence. Consequences largely felt by Victorians, to the shock of the world.

VICTORIA’S NIGHTMARE

This court result is finally reached after a three year legal struggle, and Australians should never forget the actions of the Victorian government during this dystopian period.

In 2023, it was announced that the Victorian government was facing a class action lawsuit from 1,300+ businesses over COVID-19 lockdowns.

The case argued businesses were forced to shut their doors for an extra 112 days due to the state government’s mishandling of the hotel quarantine system.

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All that was requested by these businesses was compensation for one of the worst cases of coercive fascism ever seen, and I am glad they have finally got it.

But it still may never repay the true damage that was done during this period.

Thousands of workers were stood down for failing to get their shot, including health workers and police officers, while ‘non-essential’ workers were told to get jabbed or lost their jobs.

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Paramilitary police squads stalked and hunted protesters who dare speak up against the unjust lockdowns and restrictions – making a mockery of our country to the world.

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When it was all said and done, Dan Andrew had destroyed the Victorian economy, with the state not even able to host the Commonwealth Games due to budget issues.

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It is no wonder that groups celebrated long into the night outside of Victorian parliament when Dan Andrews finally resigned, putting an end to his reign of terror.

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Things haven’t gotten much easier for the state since then, with Jacinta Allan driving the southern state further into crime and economic despair.

The truth has come out since then, including the fact many parts of the Victorian lockdown agenda were not justified by any health advice or scientific backing.

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I am happy that these businesses to finally get some sort of recognition for their struggles, even if it doesn’t truly compensate what they lost during this period.

And a salute to all the workers and victims who are still yet to be acknowledged.

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