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Private real estate inspections are set to resume in metropolitan Melbourne and Ballarat after the Premier announced that Victoria is expected to hit its 70 per cent first-dose vaccination target today.
Announcing the changes, which will come into effect from 11:59pm Friday, Premier Daniel Andrews said that inspections of properties would be permitted so long as the property was vacant at the time of inspection.
"Real estate inspections will resume by appointment only. The property would need to be vacant at the time of the inspection. The agent will stay outside, the prospective tenants or those seeking to purchase the home, they will be able to move through the home and inspect it," Mr Andrews said.
The changes go further than those canvassed by Mr Andrews last week, which would have seen inspections limited to vacant properties only.
Instead, the new rules will only require that vendors vacate the property for the duration of the inspection.
"The residents can't be at home. It doesn't have to be a vacant property but for the time that the inspection is going on they need to vacate, they need to move out for that hour or however long it takes," Mr Andrews said.
"I'm sure the real estate industry and all of those who want to get into the market or are looking to sell or have new tenants move into their property would be very appreciative of those changes," he added.
Inspections and auctions have been banned in metropolitan Melbourne and Ballarat during the current lockdown.
In the rest of Victoria up to 10 people plus an agent are permitted at inspections and 10 people can attend in-person auctions.
Residents of Melbourne are still not permitted to leave that city to inspection regional properties under the current rules.
Mr Andrews also announced that construction workers will need to show proof of having received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to continue working from September 23.
Construction workers will also no longer be permitted to leave metropolitan Melbourne to work on regional construction sites.
"From 11:59pm tomorrow night, construction workers will no long before able to cross back and forth over the metropolitan regional boundary," Mr Andrews said.
"We're seeing far too many events and even people who have COVID safety at the front of their mind, if you're travelling back and forth from metropolitan Melbourne into the regions and back again, then the virus will hitch a ride," he added.
Mr Andrews said that income supports would be available for affected workers.
This story will be updated as more details are made available.