October is finally here, and we are three weeks or less from hitting the 70 per cent target to start the reopening. It’s within sight now, and we can finally start to think about waving goodbye to lockdowns forever. The Victorian Chamber is continuing our push for the State Government to revise openings at both the 70 and 80 per cent targets.

Businesses and workers have sacrificed, suffered and done their bit to protect us all from COVID-19. They stayed closed, in some cases without work, pivoted their services to keep Victorians employed and many lost what they had spent years building. Businesses across the State are in crisis.

The State and Federal Governments have announced a further $2.27 billion in grants and financial support to assist Victorian businesses and workers struggling through the final weeks of lockdown.

I had a close friend message me from London on the weekend, as he sat comfortably in a coffee shop on Regent Street.

More than 1300 businesses across all sectors, sizes and regions provided feedback to the Victorian Chamber on the State Government’s Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan and viewpoints on vaccination conditions. Here are the results.

Sunday was not the news we wanted. The roadmap fell short: short of hope, short of NSW and short of where we need to be moving to as a state.

No matter your business, solar power helps. Hear how three businesses from different sectors benefitted from making the change.

Are you a small or medium-sized business struggling to pay the rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic? There’s still time to qualify for the retrospective part of the latest round of the State Government’s Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme.

Victorian business needs certainty and clarity on the plan for our state’s COVID-19 recovery. The Victorian Chamber has formulated a detailed four-phase roadmap to provide that light on the hill for business, workers, the economy and communities.

Well, there was a welcome shifting of narrative late last week, and we are now clearly focused on a vaccination-based opening. The past week has been tough, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Regional Victorian businesses, with the exception of Greater Shepparton, have been given the green light to open their doors after quashing the latest COVID-19 outbreak, putting an end to the gruelling Lockdown Six extension. Here is what you and your business need to know.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that Victoria will endure Lockdown Six much longer than planned, though Regional areas may exit lockdown as early as next week.

Since the launch of the Victorian Chamber’s Grant Finder tool, hundreds of Victorian businesses have already searched for the support they need – and found it. Don’t miss out!

I felt a shift in the fight against COVID-19 this week when Prime Minister Scott Morrison remarked, “this Groundhog Day has to end”. I couldn’t agree more!

The State and Federal Governments have jointly announced a further $2.32 billion in financial support for Victorian businesses struggling during Lockdown Six.

Regional Victoria has joined Melbourne in lockdown as clusters of COVID-19 cases continue to pop up across the State. Almost $1 billion in support has also been announced to help businesses impacted by the lockdown extensions.