Thousands of Victorians are looking to flee their virus-ravaged state and are considering relocating to other parts of the country.
Residents trapped in Melbourne are permitted to move house, as long as it is within the curfew hours, Using a little known loophole,
More than 20,000 residents have looked at relocating since stage four lockdown was announced, according to data from online removalist platform Muval,
The majority of those searching were looking at permanently moving to Brisbane, followed by Perth and then Sydney.
: Two women wearing face masks and protective suits walk their luggage to a taxi rank at Sydney Airport after arriving from Melbourne on Wednesday
Despite the restrictions in Melbourne, removalist are still able to operate as they are considered an essential business, meaning residents are able to flee if they please.
Victorians wishing to move will have to prove they have a valid lease to get across the border and once there, they will have to endure two-weeks in hotel quarantine.
Adam Coward, who runs the site, told 7news most of the calls from Victorians looking to move had either lost their jobs or have had a business close down.
Gold Coast buyers agent Tony Coughran said many Melburians were fed up with the lockdown restrictions.
‘They’ve just had enough.’
Melbourne was placed under a strict six-week lockdown last week, with residents only allowed to leave their homes between for work, care-giving, medical reasons or on compassionate grounds.
Massive queues are seen as thousands try to dash across the Queensland border hours before it shuts the door to everyone from NSW and ACT
The border into Queensland was packed with cars and trucks on Friday as thousands try to dash into the state before it closes its borders again
Harsh restrictions have left many residents considering their future in the city (pictured: Defence personnel are seen at a checkpoint on the Queensland-New South Wales border in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast)
A police enforceable curfew of 8pm until 5am was also brought-in until at least September 13 as part of the lockdown.
The city’s 4.9million residents have also been banned from travelling more than 5km from home to do their shopping – and only one person from each household can leave at any time.
From midnight on Thursday all arrivals from Victoria into NSW will be forced to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine at their own expense.
Travellers will only be allowed to return to the state through Sydney airport, unless they live within the NSW border regions.
Passengers in the baggage hall at Sydney Airport after arriving from Melbourne on Wednesday
Several passengers walk through Sydney’s Domestic Airport Terminal after being granted permission to fly in from Melbourne despite tough border control measures due to rising coronavirus cases in Victoria
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the new line of defence would reduce the risk of spreading the virus throughout the state.
The move comes as an alarming number of travellers from Melbourne continue to flock to Sydney.
Between 100 and 200 people have arrived in the Harbour City from Australia’s coronavirus capital every day over the past week.
Anyone who has been in Victoria in the past 14 days is banned from entering New South Wales without a border permit under the Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Amendment.
Ms Berejiklian said border permits will also be restricted further.
From 11.59pm on Wednesday, only workers in certain industries will be allowed to send their children to daycare and must apply for an Access to Childcare Permit to do so. Pictured: Police patrol parks in Melbourne
Pictured: Victorians lining up at supermarkets to buy meat and fish as shortages are expected
‘We are reviewing and look to tightening some of those definitions to make sure only those with absolutely necessary requirements [are allowed to enter],’ she said.
But there will be some exemptions, she said.
‘The death of an immediate family member would be an example of a situation where we would allow obviously people to continue coming in to NSW.’
Passengers arriving domestically were previously only required to spend 14 days in self-isolation at their own home, rather than locked inside a hotel.
Dr Kerry Chant said the change would reduce the number of people entering NSW from Victoria and reduce the risk of community transmission.
What is open in Melbourne Stage 4
Supermarkets, bottle shops, petrol stations, pharmacies, post offices, banks
Retailers working onsite to fulfill online orders
Hardware, building an garden supplies for trade
Specialist stationery for business use
Motor vehicle parts for emergency repairs, mechanics
Locksmiths, laundry and dry cleaners, maternity supplies
Disability and health services and equipment, mobility devices
Farms and commercial fishing
Vets, pounds and animal shelters
Supermarkets will stay open
Construction of critical infrastructure and services to support those projects
Critical repairs to homes where required for emergency or safety
Cafes and restaurants for takeaway
Media
Critical service call centres
Medicare
Law enforcement and courts for urgent matters
Prisons, facilities for parolees, adult parole board, youth justice facilities
Emergency services
Essential maintenance and manufacturing
FULL LIST