Victorian businesses face return to lockdown
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Victorian businesses face return to lockdown
“The business and jobs crisis has just deepened from these necessary actions,” says VCCI Chief Executive Paul Guerra.
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The reintroduction of stage three restrictions across Melbourne, surrounding metropolitan areas and parts of regional Victoria will cause Victorian businesses to suffer, and some will permanently close, says Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra.
Stage 3 “Stay at Home” restrictions will be reinstated across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire from 11:59pm on Wednesday 8 July for six weeks, with only four reasons for residents to leave their homes:
- Shopping for food and essential items.
- Care and caregiving.
- Daily exercise.
- Work and study – if it can’t be done from home.
Restrictions apply to the following LGAs:
| Banyule | Hume | Moreland |
| Bayside | Kingston | Mornington Peninsula |
| Boroondara | Knox | Nillumbik |
| Brimbank | Manningham | Port Phillip |
| Cardinia | Maribyrnong | Stonnington |
| Casey | Maroondah | Whitehorse |
| Darebin | Melbourne | Whittlesea |
| Frankston | Melton | Wyndham |
| Glen Eira | Monash | Yarra |
| Greater Dandenong | Moonee Valley | Yarra Ranges |
| Hobsons Bay | Mitchell Shire |
“Melbourne businesses and workers will once again be asked to bear the brunt of the Covid-19 crisis, and we know this will be the final straw for some,” says Mr Guerra.
“Successfully managing the health crisis in Victoria is vital to Australia’s success in safeguarding against Covid-19, but the business and jobs crisis has just deepened from these necessary actions.”
The Victorian Chamber stands ready to support metropolitan businesses as they face a second lockdown for six weeks following the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Last week our position on JobKeeper was for it to be tailored to specific sectors and refined. Victoria is now months behind other states in recovery and the Victorian Chamber believes JobKeeper should be extended for a period of a least two months to give our businesses the runway they need to get up and running before the scheme ends. We are also working with the State Government on additional support measures for this upcoming period,” says Mr Guerra.
“We support the return to lockdown because there is no alternative. Governments and the entire community must do more now to get Victoria in a position to be able to reopen fully.”
“The Victorian Government was excellent in signposting major changes during the first wave of coronavirus and we need that now as we return to these restrictions.”
More information on the Victorian restrictions can be found at the Victoria Department of Health and Human Services website here.
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