"Australia’s national interest demands that the Victorian Government move faster and more coherently towards reopening its shattered economy," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group, said today.
"Victoria represents a quarter of the national economy. The reach and impact of its continuing closure extends far beyond its borders and means our national economic recovery has been held back by months.
"Business and the community are rapidly losing faith in the Victorian Government's crisis strategy. The Government is setting the hurdle bar too high. We need a guarantee the state’s economy will remain open when there is the next inevitable spike in cases.
"That lack of faith has turned any hope and optimism into despair. Victorian businesses are losing opportunities, investment and jobs every day to interstate and international competitors, while the state government appears clueless regarding the connectedness of all businesses and supply chains.
"Industry still has not seen anything resembling a long term plan from the state government to rebuild the economy. It must come in the State Budget next month. Thousands of Victorian businesses are only surviving on Federal Government support and the Victorian Government needs to back this commonwealth assistance with tax relief, incentives and investment - to get industry back on its feet and people back in jobs.
"Victoria needs to get moving again to play its part in a strong national economic recovery," Mr Willox said
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