Regional areas without cases should be deemed "green" under an adapted government traffic light system for interstate travel, Wangaratta MP Tania Maxwell says.
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The Derryn Hinch Justice Party has put the idea to Acting Premier James Merlino, writing to him on June 16.
"I've also circulated the proposal to mayors across Northern Victoria and I'm encouraged by the upshot," Ms Maxwell said.
"Here's a workable solution that we first put to the government in August.
"The government, in response to the Sydney COVID outbreak in January, subsequently set up the Victorian Travel Permit System that used public health advice to define levels of COVID risk in NSW local government areas.
"High-risk zones were designated red, at-risk zones orange, and low or no-risk zones green.
"People from red and orange zones wanting to enter Victoria were subject to travel, activity and stay-at-home restrictions and testing requirements, while people from green zones could carry on with their daily lives and come here simply by completing a declaration permit.
"It's a system the government continues to use for all travellers from interstate."
Ms Maxwell said the government could adapt this system for Victoria-wide use.
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"This would deliver for our communities an 'an easy-to-understand traffic light system'," she said.
"It would also enable the 'places-without-cases' communities that we represent to get on with recovery and rebuilding after our fourth statewide lockdown."
"We've told Mr Merlino the government cannot continue to rely on hard lockdowns and sweeping restrictions to limit outbreaks of COVID-positive cases.
"If there's either no risk or a very low risk of COVID spread in so many of our communities then these shouldn't be locked down."
