There has been a lot of commentary around this week about the Australian Open 2021 proceeding and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry would like to voice our support.

The Victorian Chamber applauds Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement today that 75 per cent of public and private sector office workers can return to their workplaces from Monday.

The Victorian Chamber is exasperated that the State Government has not confirmed the lockdown’s conclusion tomorrow night as scheduled if cases were low and controlled.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes today’s State Government announcement of a $143 million targeted business support package to compensate the sectors hardest hit by the recent COVID-19 lockdown.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes today’s State Government announcement that Victoria will return to COVID Safe Summer settings that were in place at Christmas time from 11.59pm tonight.

The Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, to be debated in Parliament this week, recognises the challenges that the labour hire industry is facing in the wake of COVID-19.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is advocating for a consolidation budget that will provide the ideal support for Victoria to once again become the engine room of the Australian economy.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the State Government’s announcement that it will reassess 12,000 applications for the first round of the Business Support Fund in response to a Victorian Ombudsman investigation.

The State Government has today announced that all venues and businesses required to undertake electronic record keeping for COVID-19 contact tracing purposes must use the State Government’s QR Code system from 28 May.

The Victorian Chamber has today voiced its concerns over reports that the State Government will increase stamp duty and land tax next year.

The 2021-22 State Budget is fiscally responsible and will address the need for Victorian businesses to reset and recalibrate in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today’s State Government announcement of a $250 million targeted business support package to compensate businesses for the devastating impact of this fourth COVID-19 lockdown will ease some of the anxiety and worry that businesses and workers have felt since Thursday’s news.

Victoria’s business and worker emergency intensified today with news that Lockdown Four will be extended for at least another week in Metropolitan Victoria.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes today’s news that most Victorian businesses can operate from 11.59pm tomorrow, 10 June, but will continue to advocate for a snapback to pre-lockdown restrictions. Metropolitan Melbourne will go to Regional Victoria’s current settings while Regional Victoria’s restrictions will be eased even further.

Today’s announcement that restrictions will further ease from 11.59 tomorrow, Thursday 17 June, is welcome news that will enable every Victorian business to operate, but the restrictions on Metropolitan Victoria are still too conservative.

Today’s announcement that restrictions will further ease from 11.59 tomorrow, Thursday 24 June, hasn’t gone far enough.