This week Melbourne Airport announced a new partnership with Turkish Airlines, one of the world’s largest, to commence services from Istanbul, providing a significant boost to our visitor economy and making it easier for guests from new markets to travel to our wonderful state. Congratulations to Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Lorie Argus and her team on such a wonderful development! This was a real Team Victoria effort, with support from other MCC Members and stakeholders, and a pleasure to be part of.

Congratulations also to Tennis Australia and Melbourne Olympic Parks Trust on what I think is already our most successful Grand Slam event yet! And we still have a fantastic few days of matches ahead of us this long weekend. I hosted an event for Melbourne Chamber Members last night which was a fantastic evening of hospitality and tennis! It’s always a pleasure seeing members reconnect and develop new relationships.

What an incredibly positive impact the Open has already had on Melbourne and Victoria’s economy. The tournament, a true spectacle of skill and sportsmanship, has not only brought joy to sports enthusiasts but has also significantly contributed to our economy. The influx of visitors, both domestic and international, has stimulated various sectors, from hospitality to retail, showcasing our local businesses. Guests have marvelled at the world-class organisation, the electric atmosphere, and the undeniable charm of Melbourne as a host city.

It has been wonderful to host our International Chamber of Commerce colleagues: Stephanie Vielledent and Elisabetta Pilati as part of their trip from Paris to Melbourne this week. It’s been great to introduce them to the Victorian Chamber and some of our members, as well as conducting site visits of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre where the 14^th World Chambers Congress (WCC) will be held in September next year. As the Olympics of Business, it will bring delegates from more than 100 countries to Victoria, and we look forward to working with our members to help deliver the best WCC the world as ever seen.

The Chamber has been advocating for the implementation of Stage three tax cuts in full as they are essential to economic uplift and productivity. This was a critical element of the original design, which the Federal Government supported. Watering this down now will not deliver the economic boost we need and unbalance the whole package – Stages one, two and three.

Finally, we will be making a submission to the Fair Work Commission’s Job Security Discussion Paper through the Australia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This will form part of the Modern Awards Review 2023-24. If you could assist by completing a short survey which can be found here by close of business Thursday 1 February, that would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to an exciting and prosperous year ahead.

Scott Veenker

Acting Chief Executive, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry