Melbourne has been ranked as Australia’s top city and third globally in the 2023 Global Liveability Index, marking a steady rise as the city returns to normality from Covid-19.

The negatives outweigh the positive initiatives for business in the Victorian State Budget 2023-24 released today, with medium and large businesses and multiple property owners facing increased costs to repay State debt.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes the Victorian Government announcement to replace stamp duty for commercial and industrial properties with an annual property tax.

WorkCover changes announced today will see premiums increase by more than 40 per cent, changes to mental health eligibility and the creation of a new pilot program for impacted workers.

Victorian businesses are bracing themselves for lower revenue growth and slowing staff recruitment in the coming months as the cost-of-living crisis hits, the latest Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey reveals.

Solar power is now more accessible for small and medium businesses through measures announced in the 2023/24 Federal Budget combined with Victorian incentives.

The Victorian Chamber’s flagship women-in-business program, Chamber Change, has been recognised as a gender equity leader, nominated as one of four finalists in the Best Gender Equity Project in the World Chambers Competition.

Improved careers services and advice is increasingly important in a labour market characterised by skills and labour shortages, skills mismatches and perceptions of vocational education and training (VET).

Australia’s systems of managing visas, permanent residency, skilled migration and international students are set for an overhaul after a report deemed it was “not fit for purpose”.

The Executive Council has called a special general meeting of members to consider and, if thought fit, approve the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's proposed change in entity type from a body corporate established under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (Cth) to a company limited by guarantee registered under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The special general meeting will be held on 19 May 2023 at 9:30am at Level 3, 150 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 and online, using online platform Zoom.

Fast-track nomination is now available in Victoria for skilled visa candidates with an eligible health, teaching or social services occupation who meet the minimum visa requirements.

The shift to a net-zero economy will require a collective effort but is a challenge Victoria can rise to with the right mindset and the right actions, enabling government and industry to work together to reach our emission targets and seize the economic opportunities for Victoria.

The Skilled Work Regional Visa (subclass 491) has expanded to include Metropolitan Melbourne applicants.

Two thirds of the world’s growth is predicted to come from Asia over the next decade, and efforts are being made to prepare Australia to achieve long-term financial and strategic outcomes in the region.

Gone are five-day office weeks in Melbourne but overall average days have trended upwards, according to the latest office occupancy survey by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Victorian Chamber is seeking responses to our Business Voice Survey about insurance cost and business composition.