On behalf of our members, the Victorian Chamber has made a submission to the Victorian Parliament’s Inquiry into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism and events sector.

It was encouraging to see the Federal Government revive the National Cabinet this week to address the issues with the vaccine rollout, bringing the states and territories together to find the best path forward.

The Victorian Chamber’s advocacy to state and federal governments on what businesses need to survive and prosper in a post COVID-19 environment focuses on three key themes which are to enable business, grow business and make it easier to do business.

Enabling, growing, and improving the ease of doing business in Victoria are the cornerstones of the Victorian Chamber’s submission to the Victorian government ahead of the 2021-22 State Budget.

I hope your Easter Break was a good one. I know many of you are nervous around the recommencement of hotel quarantine on Thursday. Put simply, it is essential this time around the State Government gets the hotel quarantine system right.

With newly-relaxed restrictions, the VCCI hosted the Victorian Leader of the Opposition, The Hon. Michael O’Brien MP, together with the Shadow Cabinet and business leaders in our CBD offices.

An interim report has made several business-friendly recommendations which aim to expand the Skilled Migration Program and improve flexibility for employers to take advantage.

Victoria is getting its swagger back! I was excited to speak to the media yesterday on the State Government’s announcement of a further easing of restrictions, giving Victorians the signal of confidence we have been waiting for.

I hope you took some time out over the long weekend to pause and reflect on the importance of International Women’s Day on Monday.

The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System has identified a failing system and has put forward 65 recommendations to support Victorian people and businesses.

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 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.

Read here for the most up-to-date list of recently announced Government grants available to Victorian businesses, and existing grants still open for applications. Get in quick, some are closing soon.

The Victorian Chamber has launched a campaign for couples to celebrate Valentine’s Day – properly –two weeks later, on 28 February to provide a much-needed boost for hospitality venues and florists blindsided by the sudden circuit breaker lockdown.

Today is Groundhog Day for Victorian businesses. I know you are all feeling anxious and frustrated as another COVID-19 outbreak from hotel quarantine in Victoria has led to the State Government announcing a five-day lockdown to come into effect from 11.59pm tonight, Friday 12 February 2021.

The CEO of Infrastructure Victoria, Michel Masson, has detailed the organisation’s recently-released 30-year Infrastructure Draft Strategy at a Melbourne Chamber of Commerce Leadership lunch.