I know this is a tough time for many of you who will feel shattered by the extension of the fourth lockdown Victoria has endured since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The State Government has announced Lockdown 4.0 will be extended by seven days for Metropolitan Melbourne as a further $209 million in support has been put forward to support businesses.

The Federal Government has launched a new digital platform, Capability Connection, to help manufacturers and suppliers do business and bolster local supply chains.

While the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the APAC region finds itself leaps and bounds ahead of the pack, and according to ZACK Group, this is our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In response to Victoria’s fourth COVID-19 lockdown, the State Government has announced a $250 million package to support struggling Victorian businesses in their time of need.

A little over three months since Victoria’s last lockdown, businesses will once again close their doors to the public as Acting Premier James Merlino announced another ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown.

It is the Victorian Chamber’s goal to make Victoria the best place in Australia to live, work, learn, and operate a business. Our message is simple - business is not only the engine room of the economy, they’re also the heart of our communities.

The State Government has handed down the 2021-22 State Budget, featuring many recommendations put forward by the Victorian Chamber to enable business, grow business and make it easier to do business in Victoria.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg MP has unveiled a ‘Bounce Back’ Budget which aims to boost Australia’s economy by creating jobs, improving skills and investing in the digital economy.

The countdown is on to our Victoria Summit Vision Day! Today we officially launched our first major Summit event coming up on 28 May where attendees will come together to map out a bold new vision for Victoria.

Following a difficult year for Museums Victoria, Director and CEO Lynley Crosswell is embracing future technologies to entertain, educate and evolve the way the organisation operates.

Twelve thousand Victorian businesses that were denied the State Government’s $10,000 Small Business Grant will have their applications reconsidered following an investigation by the Ombudsman.

On behalf of our members, the Victorian Chamber has made a submission to the Victorian Parliament’s Inquiry into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism and events sector.

It was encouraging to see the Federal Government revive the National Cabinet this week to address the issues with the vaccine rollout, bringing the states and territories together to find the best path forward.

Enabling, growing, and improving the ease of doing business in Victoria are the cornerstones of the Victorian Chamber’s submission to the Victorian government ahead of the 2021-22 State Budget.

I hope your Easter Break was a good one. I know many of you are nervous around the recommencement of hotel quarantine on Thursday. Put simply, it is essential this time around the State Government gets the hotel quarantine system right.