The State Government’s commitment to building a purpose-built quarantine centre-based on the Howard Springs model at either Avalon or Melbourne Airport, is welcome and something we have been urging governments to consider for months.

However, the Victorian Chamber, on behalf of our members, is exasperated that the State Government has not confirmed the lockdown’s conclusion tomorrow night as scheduled if cases were low and controlled.

What business – all business – really need now is certainty that Victoria will return to COVID Normal on Thursday. With the low and identified case numbers Victoria is recording, our economy simply cannot sustain another prolonged period of restrictions.

With Labour Day weekend just two and a half weeks away and Easter just six weeks away, any form of continued lockdown or restrictions beyond COVID Normal will absolutely decimate our visitor economy both regional and the in the CBD and our events industry: both these sectors are just hanging on by a thread as it is.

We are actively engaged in discussions with the State around a substantial and targeted assistance package for the industries most adversely affected by the five-day lockdown including hospitality, events, accommodation, fresh food sellers and producers and florists. We expect the government to make an announcement on what those sectors can expect by way of compensation in the next 24 hours.

To be attributed to Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra:

“The Victorian Chamber is pleased that the State Government has finally committed to building a purpose-built hotel quarantine facility outside of Melbourne. We are glad that common sense has prevailed because the current approach in Victoria and other states of relying on hotels within the city is clearly not up to the task and business cannot keep paying the price for that.

“What Victorian business needs urgently now is the confidence and certainty that we can return to work in a COVID Normal environment on Thursday so we can get back on the path to recovery that we were navigating so well before this latest hotel quarantine breach. It will be the death knell for hundreds, if not thousands of businesses, if this goes on any longer.

“The State Government needs to give businesses some guidelines around what the thresholds for lockdowns and restrictions are: we can’t just go from up and running to complete lockdown. Just a week ago, Victoria was on the road to recovery and then suddenly, the whole state is locked down with less than 12 hours’ notice.

“We are continuing discussions with the State Government on targeted and substantial assistance for the sectors most impacted by the lockdown to compensate them for stock and cancellations not covered by insurance and expect and announcement on that in the next 24 hours.”

Media contacts: Chanelle Pearson, 0423 883 945 & Ellana Katos 0400 976 889

media@victorianchamber.com.au