A further 1,000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are set to be deployed to Victoria in order to support the State’s COVID-19 response.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that due to the evolving situation, an open Request for Assistance model had been put in place for the ADF personnel to come to Victoria.
“It is expected this will see the current contingent of over 400 personnel remain in Victoria for at least the duration of the Stage Three restrictions set to conclude on Wednesday 19 August,” Mr Morrison and Mr Andrews said
“The extra 1,000 ADF personnel will begin to deploy in coming days and it is expected this will continue over the next four weeks,” they said.
The leaders said the ADF support would be utilised across State Control Centre planning, logistics and intelligence reporting; public health response focused on contact tracing; support for supply and logistics; COVID-19 testing support; compliance checks to support Victoria Police; and assisting relevant Agencies with community engagement.
They said the ADF personnel would also partner with Ambulance Victoria’s (AV) paramedic crews to expand AV’s response capabilities by providing personnel to act as second crew members that could support paramedics at scenes and drive back to hospital.
Mr Andrews thanked the Commonwealth and other States for their continued support and collaboration to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
