Today Victorian business can get back to what you do best. It was good news we can now begin our exit from Lockdown Five and move faster than when we exited Lockdown Four.

On our first day out of lockdown, the Federal and Victorian Governments have announced a further $400 million in business support measures. Here is everything you and your business need to know.

The State and Federal Governments have today announced a joint financial assistance package for Victorian business which will give them the support and confidence they need to rebound from Lockdowns Four and Five.

After years of litigation, the High Court of Australia has finally handed down a landmark decision, closing a pathway for casual employees to seek backpay for leave entitlements.

It was mixed news for the business community this week with Regional Victoria freed from Lockdown Six but Metropolitan Victoria required to stay in lockdown for another seven days.

Lockdowns. We’ve had a few. And there will probably be a few more before we are done. Like them or not, it’s the agreed weapon of choice to combat COVID-19 until vaccination rates get to 80 per cent. They have worked to effectively stop the spread.  

I felt a shift in the fight against COVID-19 this week when Prime Minister Scott Morrison remarked, “this Groundhog Day has to end”. I couldn’t agree more!

Well, there was a welcome shifting of narrative late last week, and we are now clearly focused on a vaccination-based opening. The past week has been tough, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Victorian business needs certainty and clarity on the plan for our state’s COVID-19 recovery. The Victorian Chamber has formulated a detailed four-phase roadmap to provide that light on the hill for business, workers, the economy and communities.

Sunday was not the news we wanted. The roadmap fell short: short of hope, short of NSW and short of where we need to be moving to as a state.

I had a close friend message me from London on the weekend, as he sat comfortably in a coffee shop on Regent Street.

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 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.

The Cost of Doing Business in Victoria Taskforce will assist the Victorian Chamber to further develop business-led policy recommendations that grow the competitiveness of Victoria’s economy and prosperity of its people.

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.