Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
Australian state isn’t freezing unvaccinated people’s bank accounts
If Your Time is short
• The premier of Australia’s Victoria state has been criticized for strict regulations to contain the spread of COVID-19, including vaccination requirements for various types of gatherings and venues.
• The claim about freezing bank accounts is unsubstantiated.
The leader of Victoria, a small state in southern Australia, has been criticized for imposing strict COVID-19 regulations, including mask mandates and vaccination requirements for indoor weddings, funerals, hair salons and restaurants.
But a claim about Premier Daniel Andrews applying financial penalties to pressure people to get vaccinated isn’t true.
"Australia PM of Victoria is freezing people’s bank accts who haven't had the V, they can’t buy or sell until forced into submission," an Oct. 31 Facebook post reads.
The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
We found no evidence to support the claim that Andrews is freezing the bank accounts of unvaccinated people to pressure them to get vaccinated. A search for news clips turned up only similar unsubstantiated claims shared on sites like Reddit and Twitter. Government websites don’t mention any such action or proposal.
Sign up for PolitiFact texts
Andrews’ office did not respond to PolitiFact’s request for comment.
Andrews has been described as responsible for imposing "some of the most stringent pandemic-control measures on Earth."
When COVID cases surged in Victoria in July 2020, Andrews sent the capital, Melbourne, into one of the world’s longest lockdowns. Although there were a range of restrictions in a four-stage system, some of the restrictions in Victoria included:
-
People in the Melbourne area were allowed to shop for food and other necessities only within a 5 kilometer radius of their homes.
-
Exercise was capped at an hour per day.
-
A curfew was in place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.
-
Gyms, restaurants, entertainment venues and places of worship were closed.
The state has said it would relax the rules as more people got vaccinated.
On Oct. 29, Victoria reached a vaccination milestone: 80% of its residents aged 16 and older were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The achievement meant some restrictions were relaxed, and businesses such as gyms, retailers and entertainment venues could reopen to fully vaccinated customers.
The state is still working to achieve a 90% vaccination rate for anyone ages 12 or older.
Misinformation about Andrews’ plans for unvaccinated Victorians has been fact-checked in the past. For example, ABC Fact Check debunked the claim that Andrews planned to "strip Medicare coverage" from the unvaccinated.
A Facebook post claimed that the premier of Victoria, Australia, is freezing the bank accounts of unvaccinated people to pressure them to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
We found no evidence to support this claim.
We rate this post False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, Oct. 31, 2021
VisitMelbourne.com, "About Victoria," accessed Nov. 4, 2021
Britannica, "Victoria," accessed Nov. 4, 2021
Washington Post, "Australia’s coronavirus ‘dictator’ enforces a drastic lockdown. He’s still popular," Sept. 15, 2020
The Atlantic, "Australia Traded Away Too Much Liberty," Sept. 2, 2021
7 News, "Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews addresses controversy over proposed pandemic laws," Oct. 25, 2021
ABC News, "Post-lockdown Victoria fails to deliver sunny days as Premier feels the heat over controversial pandemic laws," Oct. 29, 2021
Coronavirus.vic.gov.au, "How we live: Information for Victorians," accessed Nov. 4, 2021
Coronavirus.vic.gov.au, "How we work: Victoria," accessed Nov. 4, 2021
ABC News, "Victorians gear up for 'COVID normal' as state reopens, health experts urge caution," Oct. 24, 2021
Coronavirus.vic.gov.au, "Victoria’s Roadmap," accessed Nov. 4, 2021
Washington Post, "Melbourne lifts one of world’s longest lockdowns after 111 days," Oct. 28, 2020
ABC News, "Victoria has introduced a curfew and stage 4 coronavirus restrictions for Melbourne, and stage 3 restrictions for regional Victoria. Here's what that means," Aug. 2, 2020
COTA Victoria, "Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions – what do they mean for you?" July 14, 2020
New York Times, "The Lockdown That Felt Like It Might Last Forever Has Finally Ended," Oct. 28, 2020
Tweet, Oct. 31, 2021
Reddit post, Oct. 31, 2021
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Madison Czopek
Australian state isn’t freezing unvaccinated people’s bank accounts
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.