Registrations are open for the 2024 Australia-Cambodia Business Forum, to be held on 5 March in Melbourne.

It’s great to be back after a summer break, especially to return to the news of so many positive developments and accolades for our members.

Feedback is being sought on upcoming new regulations to support Victoria’s WorkCover scheme, which propose changes around compensation and self-insurance arrangements.

The new year brings optimism and hope, and trepidation of what may lie ahead. While current and emerging conditions will continue to challenge our business community, the Victorian Chamber continues to have your back and advocate on your behalf.

There’s one recurring question I’ve been asked over recent weeks: “What’s your outlook for 2024?”

Growth. It's a concept we need to get familiar with again. It will dominate discussion over the next few years, and so it should.

John Denton AO is the Secretary General for the International Chamber of Commerce and a distinguished figure in the business landscape.

As the end of the year approaches, most workers will enjoy a break and then set goals for next year.

In Episode Five, Series Two of Business Voice, the Victorian Chamber hears from Professor Sharon Lewin OAM, an infectious diseases physician and scientist who is the inaugural Director of the Doherty Institute – and a driving force in the fight against global health challenges.

I have spent the morning representing the Chamber at the State Parliamentary Inquiry into WorkCover to ensure the views of business are heard.

Our final major event of the year - our inspirational Women in Business lunch, featuring a captivating conversation between our brilliant MC, Alicia Loxley, and our distinguished guest, the Honourable Linda Dessau AC CVO - has been the highlight of my week.

The Honourable Linda Dessau AC CVO, former Governor of Victoria says her role taught her “how lucky we are” to be in Victoria, even if there’s a long way to go on social issues such as gender equality.

I wanted to ensure you are kept across the WorkCover Bill amendments. We have been working with both the Government and Opposition to ensure they understand a premium increase beyond CPI is not acceptable. We also continue to state that we support necessary changes to make the scheme sustainable. We all need it.

The Federal Government yesterday announced that more than half a billion dollars’ worth of measures will be dedicated to Australia’s landmark cyber security strategy until 2030, which includes $290.8 million to uplift small and medium businesses, $143 billion to defend critical infrastructure and $129.7 million to build regional cooperation and resilience.

We have been closely engaged with Spring Street this week as the Parliament considers new legislation to overhaul Victoria’s archaic WorkCover scheme. The Victorian Chamber continues to advocate strongly for a fair and sustainable scheme that remains accessible to workers and affordable for businesses.

The WorkCover scheme is broken and no longer fit for purpose. It needs to change in order to survive.