Victorians today have been rewarded with further easing of restrictions from 11.59pm on Thursday as the state reaches the 70 per cent double vaccinated rate, with further easing expected shortly after as we power towards the 80 per cent double vaccinated target.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the Premier’s announcement today that all workers in Victoria on the Authorised Workers List will be required to have their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Friday 15 October 2021 to continue working on site, with their second dose due by 26 November.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the announcement of a fifth allotment of joint Federal and State Government funding to see business and workers through until vaccination rates hit the targets we need to open up under the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan.

Victorian businesses are left shattered today, with news that many will have to remain closed until Victoria hits the 80 per cent double COVID-19 vaccination target, which is about eight weeks away on current predictions.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes today’s announcement that the State Government will make minor adjustments to some limited restrictions for Metropolitan Victoria and Ballarat, after we reached the state’s first vaccination target of 70 per cent first dose.

The Victorian Chamber and Business NSW are calling for Australia’s two largest economies to be united when both states achieve second dose vaccination rates of 80 per cent, which would include open travel between the two States. 

The Victorian Chamber welcomes the compliance blitz that will take place in Victoria’s construction industry from today to improve COVIDSafe compliance. We also welcome the push to drive-up vaccination rates across that workforce.

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.

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.

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.

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

The Victorian Chamber is pleased that the State and Federal Governments have again come together to announce a further $807 million in support for Victorian businesses to get through the second extension of Lockdown Six.

With so much recent discussion and debate centred around enforcing mandatory vaccinations in workplaces and the allowance of greater freedoms for those fully vaccinated, the Victorian Chamber surveyed its members on the potential introduction of greater freedoms for vaccinated Australians. 

The Victorian Chamber is pleased by today’s announcement of a further $367 million in business support as a result of another joint effort by the State and Federal Governments to help businesses stay afloat during the extended Lockdown Six period.

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.

Just as Victorians were beginning to enjoy the freedoms we have missed, the State has been plunged into its sixth COVID-19 related lockdown.