Analysis of skills shortages in Australia shows that 36 per cent of assessed occupations (332 out of 916) were in national shortage in 2023, five per cent higher than the year before.

The Victorian Chamber is supporting regional Victoria through the State Government’s Business Groups Flood Recovery Grant. 

It was wonderful to start the week with a call from our new Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan bright and early at 8.15am.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is urging businesses to review their standard form contracts and remove or change any unfair terms before new penalties take effect.

With a new Premier and Deputy, it’s a new dawn in Victoria. The business community is ready to play our part for the future we all aspire to. 

I want to extend my congratulations to Victoria’s new Premier, Jacinta Allan and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll. Their appointment is fantastic news for the business community, and we have longstanding and productive relationships with both. I am delighted that they will be tasked with taking our State forward. I know they are both up for the challenge and I know they both are acutely aware of what business – all of you – contribute to our great State.

The Australian Government has released an employment White Paper that provides a roadmap of actions being taken, and further reform required, to support the Australian labour market into the future.

The Victorian Chamber has released a first-of-its-kind Cyber Security and Scams Policy Position with 24 pragmatic recommendations to protect small, medium and family businesses from cyber criminals, in a comprehensive cyber suite that includes a Security Checklist and Self-Paced Training for businesses.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has officially launched our first-of-its-kind Cyber Security and Scams Policy Position. This document outlines the steps Australia must take to achieve the Government’s ambition of becoming the most cyber secure nation by 2030.

Some of you will have been involved in our Housing Taskforce, which is nearing completion. On Tuesday I had an opinion piece published in the Herald Sun which highlights what we have heard during the extensive consultation.

Victorians have an exclusive opportunity to hear and discuss how to shape the future of the State around population increases, growth suburbs, multicultural Melbourne, health and transport.

Melbourne Chamber members CSIRO and Boeing Australia have teamed up on a landmark roadmap outlining sustainable aviation in Australia.

Businesses and employees are vulnerable targets of illegal trade, according to Crime Stoppers in its latest campaign targeting workplaces.

I'm excited to provide a short preview of an upcoming report that we believe will greatly benefit our members. Our Housing Taskforce has been diligently working on a comprehensive document to help address the housing challenges faced by our community.

On Monday afternoon, Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke introduced the Government’s “Closing the Loopholes” Fair Work Act Amendment Bill, which proposes significant changes to our industrial relations landscape.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry opposes the Federal Government’s Closing the Loopholes Bill which would reduce Victorian workers’ flexibility and freedom, drive up costs for consumers and make it more difficult to run a business not only in Victoria, but across Australia.