The Victorian Government has announced crowds of up to 10,000 at the Melbourne Cup on the 2nd of November, as well as Oaks Day and Stakes Day. According to Daniel Andrews, this is a trial of crowd numbers:  “The Melbourne Cup crowd is a guaranteed crowd, it’s part of a trial,” Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said. 

University Students won't return to face to face learning this year, high school and a primary school children will only be allowed to return to the classroom full time after at least the 8th of November under the current roadmap. And if they're in Grade 3 and 4 or Year 8 and 9 they will miss out on one of their staggered days because of the public holiday.

Victorian Students have been forced into remote learning for over 260 days (so far) since the beginning of the pandemic, and parents and children are all struggling to cope, and it is a slap in the face to all parents and students that a highly controversial industry that has been allowed to operate throughout the pandemic should have a higher priority than the education, mental health and well being of students.

The Victorian Government should scrap the crowds or bring forward the end of remote learning for all students. Clearly, education is less important than the money for and from the horse racing industry.