The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes the State Government’s decision to change a number of COVID-19 restrictions in a move that will assist in boosting business but we are frustrated that the State Government is yet to give the green light for workers to begin returning to the office safely.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry today released its Cost and Ease of Doing Business in Victoria Report which features an Australian-first index that ranks the cost of doing business across all states and territories, member survey results and feedback from roundtables. This was part of the Cost and Ease of Doing Business Taskforce, headed by Victorian Chamber Vice President Adrian Kloeden and Regional Chair – Bendigo Kate Mannix.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes the Victorian Government’s announcement today, which has given the green light for more workers within critical industries to be exempt from close contact isolation requirements.

The Victorian Chamber – in partnership with the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions – is proud to announce ten deserving finalists in the Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrates today’s announcement by Premier Daniel Andrews that as of 11.59pm tonight, most restrictions will lift in Victoria as we move closer to hitting the 90 per cent vaccination milestone.

In partnership with the Victorian Government, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is establishing a new COVIDSafe Squad to help businesses to be COVIDSafe.

The Victorian Chamber and Business NSW have united to welcome the joint announcement that Australia’s two most populous states will allow free travel between them, with borders opening from midnight 5 November.

The Victorian Chamber in partnership with the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions has launched the Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards to recognise and reward Victorian businesses that have put an enormous amount of hard work and effort in responding to the pandemic through COVIDSafe measures.

The State Government has today given the green light for all Victorian businesses to welcome back customers and staff from 6pm on Friday, 29 October as we prepare to hit the 80 per cent fully vaccinated target. Importantly, once we hit the 90 per cent vaccinated target there will be only minimal restrictions in place, meaning it will be a spectacular summer.

The Victorian Chamber is today launching Safe In Our Hands, a campaign designed to reinforce that the business community is ready to welcome back customers and clients in a COVIDSafe manner.

Victorians today have been rewarded with further easing of restrictions from 11.59pm on Thursday as the state reaches the 70 per cent double vaccinated rate, with further easing expected shortly after as we power towards the 80 per cent double vaccinated target.

The Victorian Chamber is proud to partner with the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) to deliver the fourth round of the SummerTech LIVE program, which matches businesses with tertiary students to tackle real, digital technology problems.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the Premier’s announcement today that all workers in Victoria on the Authorised Workers List will be required to have their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Friday 15 October 2021 to continue working on site, with their second dose due by 26 November.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the announcement of a fifth allotment of joint Federal and State Government funding to see business and workers through until vaccination rates hit the targets we need to open up under the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan.

Victorian businesses are left shattered today, with news that many will have to remain closed until Victoria hits the 80 per cent double COVID-19 vaccination target, which is about eight weeks away on current predictions.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes today’s announcement that the State Government will make minor adjustments to some limited restrictions for Metropolitan Victoria and Ballarat, after we reached the state’s first vaccination target of 70 per cent first dose.