<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Businesses impacted by one of the world's longest </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/coronavirus" rel="" target="" title="COVID-19"><span>COVID-19</span></a><span> lockdowns will receive $125 million from taxpayers after a state government agreed to settle the matter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A class action was brought in the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/courts" rel="" target="" title="Supreme Court"><span>Supreme Court</span></a><span> on behalf of businesses impacted financially by Victoria's 2020 lockdowns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Retail businesses, including lead plaintiff 5 Boroughs NY Pty Ltd, argued the state government should pay them for </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-victoria-thousands-lose-work-as-mass-business-closures-ordered-construction-manufacturing-retail/a35c94c1-e978-44b1-ae39-3517db07ebb7" rel="" target="_blank" title="economic loss resulting from the lockdown"><span>economic loss resulting from the lockdown</span></a><span> as customers were prevented from attending their physical businesses, due to restrictions between July and October.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-trump-netanyahu-how-long-will-the-war-last/3a066ef3-fe97-4b15-8222-982b2e91de3f" target="_blank"><strong><span>'Please do not go': Major international airport shut after drone strike</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/middle-east-travel-warning-for-australians-do-not-transit-via-doha-qatar/c70983d6-e79c-475a-a457-2deae152dea6" target="_blank"><strong><span>Fresh warning for Australian travellers about stopovers</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The matter had been listed for trial on March 10, however it was adjourned to a directions hearing at the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne"><span>Melbourne</span></a><span> Supreme Court today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Barrister Adam Hochroth SC, representing the class action, said the trial had been vacated as he was "pleased" to inform the court the parties had reached a settlement.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-court-news-government-to-pay-125-million-dollars-for-covid-business-settlement/5955bce7-f67e-4dcf-ad63-e3f5d027174e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The terms of the settlement deeds are confidential at this stage, but I can tell Your Honour the amount of the settlement is $125 million, inclusive of everything, costs, interest," he told the court today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The settlement must be formally approved by the court before the funds can be distributed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>OSCARS UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/oscars-2026-live-updates-98th-academy-awards-winners-results-surprises-biggest-moments-news-headlines/8d4b2289-f7a5-4cbd-b07a-c30354e585eb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Tears, shock as Best Picture is crowned</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>POLITICS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/one-nation-poll-result-taking-support-from-labor-and-coalition/9fce336e-30a1-45f7-be1a-501c07d84c8d" target="_blank"><strong><span>One Nation surges in the polls, overtaking Coalition</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="" title="Victorian"><span>Victorian</span></a><span> government confirmed the settlement outside of court today, saying it continues to stand by "the steps it took during the pandemic to keep Victorians safe".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The state has reached an agreement to resolve the matter," a spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The $125m settlement, agreed to between the parties, will avoid further protracted legal proceedings."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The class action's law firm, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart &amp; Sullivan, said the settlement concluded "years of hard-fought litigation" by impacted businesses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a significant outcome for eligible businesses. July to October 2020 was an extraordinarily difficult period for Victorian retail businesses," partner Damian Scattini said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The $125 million settlement that we have achieved on their behalf is recognition of this hardship and I hope it provides some measure of relief for eligible businesses."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The settlement approval application was adjourned to a date to be fixed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>