I have no doubt that he will bring fresh ideas, innovation, and a renewed energy to the Australian Grand Prix, elevating it to even greater heights and continuing to deliver an unforgettable experience to fans and participants alike. We are also excited to continue our partnership with the Melbourne GP for our annual Grand Prix Breakfast - one of our most popular and hotly anticipated social events of the calendar - and look forward to working closely with Travis on delivering this to our members.

I hope you are all well and enjoying the unseasonably warmer, winter weather. While it’s lovely to have a break from our usual bitterly cold Victorian winters, it also reignites conversations around climate targets.

The Victorian Chamber’s Policy Team is currently consulting with members ahead of expected legislation from the Federal Government, which will require large organisations to report on climate-related financial disclosures. This eventual requirement is in response to international standards set by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) in June 2023 to develop global standards for climate disclosure and sustainability reporting.

We will provide the feedback from industry to the Federal Government on behalf of all our members to ensure reporting requirements are simple and businesses are well supported to disclose climate-related information.

We anticipate that any eventual legislation will have a significant impact on business, particularly small, medium and family enterprises. Therefore, we will continue to advocate for simplification of reporting processes and that appropriate education and training is made available to all businesses to ensure reporting requirements are met.

You can find more information on this here, and if you have any questions, email policy@victorianchamber.com.au.

I am pleased to announce that we have launched a new event celebrating Victorian innovation and entrepreneurs. Victoria is the home of Australian innovation and it’s important that we maintain this mantle by doing all we can to attract talent, investment and businesses.

We’re hosting a special lunch at Crown Palladium on August 23, with keynote speaker Minister for Industry and Innovation Ben Carroll MP discussing the ways in which the State Government will provide the next generation of entrepreneurs with the necessary resources, mentorship, and support to turn their ideas and dreams into reality.

Guests will also hear from a panel of expert business leaders in a discussion about how Victoria can continue to leverage our intellectual capital, attract investment, and create thriving business environments.

This is an exciting opportunity to learn how we can bring fresh ideas and groundbreaking technologies to market, challenge traditional industries and generate employment opportunities. Book now to be involved.

Finally, it has been wonderful seeing so much coverage of the Australian finale of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

After launching in 2019, this Melbourne-exclusive production has set new records as the most successful play in our country’s history, delivering more than 1,300 shows to 1.5 million people across four years.

Congratulations to all those involved in bringing this magical show to our city, including Visit Victoria, whose incredible promotion has helped contribute a multi-million-dollar boost to the economy as hotels, restaurants and bars enjoyed the increased visitor numbers into the city.

Have a wonderful week.