One of the big issues that invariably exists when it comes to engaging with the Government on policy development is that there is a massive reliance on anecdotal evidence – there is no real general ranking by which we can really drill down into the data. There are several indicators out there but nothing broad, which is why we approached the Nous Group who were able to help us develop this report and ranking system. The collaboration of this framework using genuine data will now enable us to see how things are actually working in Victoria, allowing us to understand the practical realities of where we stand in terms of skills and labour; infrastructure and connectivity; entrepreneurship and growth; productivity and stability; affordability; and government services and tax. We can now use this information to develop a benchmark to measure public policy outcomes by Government within the context of how they are enabling, growing or easing the cost of business in Victoria.

This report will form the basis of our advocacy campaign ahead of the State and Federal Budget cycles and double election year.

This report is not to pass judgment on Government in any way, shape or form, nor is it about announcing an overall ‘winner’ between Australia’s states and territories, but more an opportunity to identify the areas that need to be improved to provide the best economic conditions for our state’s businesses and identify practical and specific steps that Victoria can take to continue becoming a more attractive place to do business. We have been surveying our members over the past couple of months to find the yardstick to which we can measure our success and the recommendations that have come from this will enable us to continue working with all levels of government to act on opportunities.

You can see the complete report here and please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions or concerns.

I want to thank all our members who have contributed to the survey response that enabled such a comprehensive report, and to the Taskforce Co-Chairs Kate Mannix and Adrian Kloeden. As always, our policy team, led by Dylan Broomfield, were instrumental in bringing this together in such a comprehensive way.

In other big news this week, we announced the overall category winners of the Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards, a partnership with the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions designed to recognise businesses and individuals who demonstrated how they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic through the implementation of COVIDSafe measures and safety and compliance strategies.

Congratulations to Innovation Award winner, Ryman Healthcare; Champion Award winner Jillian Christie, Chief Executive Officer of Monkami; and joint winners of the Community Award, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre & Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute. The commitment and dedication that organisations and individuals like these and all our other finalists have been the backbone of our COVID-19 recovery and they have enabled our economy to continue moving forward throughout these tough times.

February is in full swing with a packed agenda on the Chamber’s calendar and plenty more still to come throughout the year. It was wonderful to see so many Melbourne Chamber members at a small gathering at Crown’s new function area, The Evergreen, to celebrate longstanding members and welcome new ones to the MCC’s fold, and we look forward to more networking opportunities and celebrations.

I hope to see many of you at our next major event on Friday when we are joined at Crown Palladium by Former United Kingdom Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, who will be delivering a keynote address and then engaging with members of the audience in an exciting Q&A opportunity. A guest of this calibre is tremendously exciting, and I look forward to hearing her insights and future endeavours. Tickets are extremely limited but there are some still available for purchase here.

I know there continues to be frustration around the return to the office. For those who have been in the CBD you can see the devastating impact it is having. We are continuing to push our position with the State around relaxing the mask rules in offices, removing the strong recommendation to work from home and to stimulate the return with a voucher program. I will keep you across any developments.

Enjoy your week, please get your booster shot, take care of your loved ones and support as many local small and medium businesses as possible.