The Victorian Chamber welcomes today’s prompt announcement of a new $400 million State and Federal Government support package, which will give businesses the confidence they need to get through Lockdown Six and continue the recovery from Lockdowns Four and Five.

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!

Welcome to the August edition of Chief Executive Paul Guerra's monthly regional column - covering issues, news and developments important to Victoria’s regional businesses.

Victorian businesses are devastated by the news that Metropolitan Victoria’s lockdown will be extended indefinitely.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the further $2.34 billion in joint State and Federal Government support announced today for Victorian businesses and workers to get through the continued extension of Lockdown Six.

Today’s announcement that lockdown restrictions will be lifted across Regional Victoria (apart from Greater Shepparton) from midnight tomorrow night will provide some welcome relief.

Regional Victorian businesses, with the exception of Greater Shepparton, have been given the green light to open their doors after quashing the latest COVID-19 outbreak, putting an end to the gruelling Lockdown Six extension. Here is what you and your business need to know.

Victorian business needs certainty and clarity about when they can plan to welcome back customers and staff as we progress towards hitting the National Cabinet’s COVID-19 vaccination targets of 70 and 80 per cent.

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.

Are you a small or medium-sized business struggling to pay the rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic? There’s still time to qualify for the retrospective part of the latest round of the State Government’s Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme.

No matter your business, solar power helps. Hear how three businesses from different sectors benefitted from making the change.

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.