Welcome to our first edition of Victorian Chamber News for 2022. We know that staff shortages, supply chain issues, isolation requirements, density limits and lack of accessibility to Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) continue to cause difficulty and stress and the Victorian Chamber team is working hard to ensure your voices are heard and practical solutions can be found.

In partnership with Crown Melbourne, the Victorian Chamber is running free online seminars designed to help regional businesses bounce back after consecutive lockdowns and sparse tourism.

If you were lucky enough to get in a break over the school holidays, you would have noticed the crippling effect that Covid-19 is having on our small businesses across the state.

After multiple postponements as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry supported by Crown Melbourne has announced its highly anticipated Regional Business Recovery Roadshow will become a free online series. The business recovery sessions will include practical information for farmers, suppliers and producers on how to respond to tenders and understand the decision-making criteria for large hospitality vendors. The Victorian Chamber will also brief attendees on our Federal and State Budget submissions and our visitor economy policy platform.

It’s the report that you helped us create, and one that might well sharpen the focus on what Victoria needs to do to be the best state to operate a business in. I’m very proud of to release the Cost and Ease of Doing Business in Victoria Taskforce Report.

After much debate the Morrison Government will not continue with legislation that included provisions to make discrimination on the grounds of religious belief or activity unlawful in a range of areas (including employment and education).

The Victorian Chamber was pleased to partner with Crown Melbourne on business recovery webinars designed to help regional businesses bounce back following consecutive lockdowns and sparse tourism.

Great news this week with several positive developments to set us on a cracking pace for our state’s COVID-19 recovery.

‘Building back business’ and ‘building for our future’ are the cornerstones of the Victorian Chamber’s submission to the Australian Government ahead of the 2022-23 Federal Budget.

Yesterday we celebrated International Women’s Day, a global event marking the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and amplifying the call for diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces.

Habits can be hard to break and I’m sure we all felt a bit uncertain last week as office workers started to return after the better part of two years working from home.

The Chamber is working overtime to ensure business remains our number one priority. As we have done right through the pandemic, we are continuing to advocate strongly on behalf of our members with all levels of government in what will be a critical year with both federal and state elections.

It’s hard to describe what an incredible feeling it is to finally be able to move around our great state again and enjoy all Regional Victoria has to offer, whether it’s our beautiful towns, beaches, lakes, rivers, wineries, golf courses or restaurants.

The Victorian Chamber is pleased to launch our Federal Election Platform, which pitches three big ideas that will benefit Victorian businesses and jobs, secure the progress of our state, and drive economic development into the future.

Supporting Victoria’s visitor economy, building a new interstate freight terminal and boosting clean energy industries to create jobs and build a thriving manufacturing sector are the key pillars of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Federal Election Platform.

The Victorian Chamber’s advocacy has helped secure significant wins in the Federal Budget with increased funding for skills and training, commitments for two Victorian freight terminals and a much-needed boost for regional tourism.