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.

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 have today received the clarity and certainty they have been waiting for, with the State Government’s announcement that COVID-19 vaccinations will be mandatory for all Victorian authorised workers.

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.

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.

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.

The Victorian Chamber, in partnership with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has produced an employer guide to Victorian Public Health Orders Mandating COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace in response to strong demand from members.

The Suburban Rail Loop released its Business and Investment Case in August 2021 outlining how it will deliver more jobs, better services, and access to housing as Victoria continues to grow.

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.

Victorians have been rewarded with further easing of restrictions after hitting the state’s 70 per cent double vaccination target ahead of schedule. As businesses reopen, they will need to be prepared to manage any conflict that may arise due to overseeing and enforcing COVIDSafe requirements. Learn how we can assist via our new training course.

Sunday was a good day for most when we heard the State Government’s roadmap had been bought forward. I cannot wait to see the smiles on the faces of business owners, staff and customers when we start to emerge from lockdown in Metropolitan Melbourne this week.

We have been through a lot, but we’re ready to do what we love again. Victorians are safe in our hands.

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.

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.

With the hospitality and retail sectors in the process of reopening their doors and workplaces welcoming staff back to their offices in coming weeks, focus has shifted to how businesses should request and handle COVID-19 vaccine certificates and vaccination information.

After enduring the world’s longest lockdown and inconsistent periods of extended closures, Victorian businesses are ready to leave the last two, difficult years behind them as they begin reopening under COVID-Normal conditions.