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.

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

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.

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.

The Victorian Government announced the first allocation of funding as part of the $10 million Enabling Tourism Fund to inject vital support into Victoria’s struggling visitor economy.

The Victorian Chamber is proud to partner with the State Government to progress a Wine and Craft Beverage project as part of a $1.9 million funding package to back the recovery of Victoria’s hard-hit visitor economy.

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!

Not since September 11, 2001, has Melbourne Airport faced such capricious circumstances in which to operate. Lyell Strambi explains how the business is navigating the storm.

Lockdowns. We’ve had a few. And there will probably be a few more before we are done. Like them or not, it’s the agreed weapon of choice to combat COVID-19 until vaccination rates get to 80 per cent. They have worked to effectively stop the spread.  

It was mixed news for the business community this week with Regional Victoria freed from Lockdown Six but Metropolitan Victoria required to stay in lockdown for another seven days.

The Victorian Government’s further tightening of border controls with New South Wales has left border businesses reeling, with yet another strain placed on their operations.

Today Victorian business can get back to what you do best. It was good news we can now begin our exit from Lockdown Five and move faster than when we exited Lockdown Four.

As a General Manager at Australia’s most innovative production company, WTFN’s Derek Dyson knows all about the value of interns - especially those bringing digital skills to the business.

It has been estimated that in the next four years, over six million digital workers will be required across Australia to keep up with the rapid technological evolution.

It was only last week that we were reminded of the beginning of a 112-day lockdown here in Victoria last year and we desperately hope we don’t find ourselves in a similar situation again.