Eradication of COVID-19 might be an outcome, but it should not be the goal. Further delays to business opening will mean more businesses lost and more jobs gone. The balance must be met for suppression and living with the virus while allowing business - and our lives - to continue in a COVID-normal way. Other states have been doing this for months now and we can too.

The danger coming out of lockdown is a retreat of confidence. We must become bold again, as it’s how we became the economic powerhouse of the country. We must dare to dream and match it with action. We must attract and keep the best companies in the world. We must give the support to small and medium business who employ Victorians and who continually have a go.

Business owners know what is required, governments have provided the COVID-safe frameworks and in turn placed trust in business owners, and from my briefings it’s clear the Government has invested heavily into the contact tracing system. We can now set about the recovery process. I have encouraged the Victorian Government ahead of Sunday’s press conference to accelerate our recovery by enabling business to play its part and announcing an immediate restart for business.

Yesterday, I was pleased to see the State Government respond to our advocacy and announce that pubs, restaurants, cafes and other food and drink venues can use existing outdoor spaces, nearby parks and public land to accommodate and serve patrons without a planning permit. This will help Melbourne’s hospitality sector make a smoother transition to outdoor dining by streamlining planning approvals.

Reopening of business next week will be a welcome step but it is not the end game because the strategy is incomplete. Victoria is still separating its regional areas from metropolitan Melbourne and we are so far behind other states. Our economy is too important to risk losing any more time.

Most business owners have now exhausted their financial reserves. Governments have spent big to support businesses to get through. But the band aids cannot last forever and we need to release the shackles and let business owners and leaders get on with making the decisions they have been so good at making over the years.

Bold, safe, and confident steps in both the community and business is required to get us through. I’m ready and I know you are too.

Finally, let’s get around Geelong and Richmond on Saturday as they battle it out in the AFL Grand Final. It’s been a tough, arduous journey for the Cats and Tigers and we should be proud of two Victorian clubs weathering the storm of 2020 and reach the decider (even if our own team didn’t make it that far!).

Enjoy your long weekend and I hope you back a winner.

Regards, Paul.