Located in one of the most iconic buildings in Melbourne’s Paris End, the George on Collins channels the high class of the Georges emporium with the casual atmosphere of a New York-style restaurant bar.

In a boon for Melbourne, the City is set to welcome more than 14,000 Rotary members and participants from more than 120 countries and regions around the world for the 2023 Rotary International Convention.

As we approach the budget season, we are in continuing discussions with the State Government to ensure business remains positioned to provide the growth the State needs. I expect those meetings will continue over the next few weeks as well.

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”.

On Tuesday, we reflected on the sacrifice that generations of Australians and New Zealanders have made to protect our way of life. Hundreds of Anzac Day commemorations took place across the State to honour the Anzac spirit; it felt to me as if that spirit was particularly prominent this year, perhaps it was heightened among Victorians because of the war in Ukraine and global instability.

Melbourne has been chosen to host the inaugural Asia Pacific (APAC) Offshore Wind and Green Hydrogen Summit from 29-31 August.

It certainly feels like the year continues to accelerate, and I hope you are doing what you need to ensure your business is in good shape.

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.

I hope you all had a wonderful and safe long weekend. It was certainly great to have a break, and hopefully some of you can enjoy extra time with your children as we enter school holidays.

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

We saw Melbourne at its best over the weekend as we played host to a Melbourne-record Formula One crowd of more than 440,000 people at Albert Park.

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.

Almost three-quarters of CBD-based employees have settled into a weekly routine of working from the office two to three days per week, according to the latest office occupancy survey by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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.

With its future secure in Melbourne until 2037 and another huge weekend of action scheduled this year, the Australian Grand Prix continues to be a headliner on Victoria’s events calendar.

Having come straight from the Albert Park track this morning from the Victorian Chamber and Keolis Downer Grand Prix™ Breakfast, I can tell you that Melbourne is certainly in for a treat this weekend!