This is the final word from the Vic. Government regarding prospecting.

Sad to say but we have received confirmation that ANY form or prospecting in Victoria, NOT on your own land, is banned till further notice.
Confirmed by DJPR (Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions) and the office of Chief Health Officer for Victoria.
Here is link which makes it crystal clear (something we have been missing these last few days) released yesterday.
"A media release on 2 April 2020 from the Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton, included the following:
• There are only four reasons for Victorians to leave their home: food and supplies, medical care and care giving, exercise, and work or education.
• Victorians must change their behaviour to change the course of this epidemic. This means all recreational activities beyond basic exercise are not allowed.
• “Unfortunately, this means no fishing, no hunting, no boating, no camping, and no golf. Hang up your rods, leave the tinnie in the driveway, and clean your clubs at home,” Professor Sutton said.
• Police have strong powers to enforce these directions and can issue on the spot fines, including up to $1652 for individuals and up to $9913 for businesses.
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/media-release-coronavirus-updat…
Thanks to Chris Parpa, (one of our members) who chased this information up for us.
Stay safe. #InThisTogether

If you keep poking a bear with a stick soon enough you'll get a growl out of it (or an answer nobody wants).

Well, that's that then hey? Thank you for keeping us all updated & informed on the matter wombat.

Cheers Kon.

And I was looking forward to going out detecting on private property too
wombat

Crystal clear not really.Did I miss something,where does it say no prospecting.It says no recreational activities.
Also the definition of work
"activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result".
So if your work is prospecting this is conflicting information.

N.B Kon maybe we need a new section for Covid-19

I think you will find that the professional mining industry is quite different. Even a small operation as long as it does not fall into the hobby classification is a business like any other business and the appropriate rules apply.
All the uproar and the resultant clamp down is due to a handful of 'noisy' hobbyist idiots on Facebook and elsewhere mouthing off about their 'rights', and how they will 'do as they wish'.
Well, these morons have 'poked the bear' can now pat themselves on the back for drawing attention to something that had until then been, not of importance.
Well done drongos. You sure ain't the sharpest knives in the block.

So Reg, does this mean you cannot go prospecting on your own land? It's a bit silly really when the most dangerous places in Australia at the moment are the supermarkets.

Here come the greens if its not the greens its the corona virus that shuts detecting down.
The greens will be loving it.

Deutran, Reg & Granite2 I may be able to answer your questions as I have spoken to, and it was Confirmed by DJPR (Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions) and the office of Chief Health Officer for Victoria. That prospecting is classified as an activity and all outside activities are now not allowed except on your own property. And that includes detecting. This ban under those rulings came in before we contacted them. A media release on 2 April 2020 from the Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton, included the following: There are only four reasons for Victorians to leave their home: food and supplies, medical care and caregiving, exercise, and work or education.
Detecting IS NOT classified as exercise, it is classified as an activity and is banned under the new rules and regulations. Except ON YOUR own land.
In regards to mining or someone who depends on mining or prospecting for a living has to show proof that they truly dependent on prospecting or mining as a living by having an ABN and tax proof that shows mining as your main sauce of income. Or prof from your employer that you are employed in the mining industry.
wombat

Thanks Bill for clearing that up for us.