"Business is looking to the Victorian government to ensure its approach to the COVID outbreak announced today remains proportionate and targeted," Tim Piper, Victorian head of the national employer association Ai Group said today.
"The health and well-being of our workforce and our community is the highest priority and businesses will be proactive and will comply with COVID regulations, helping workers and customers function in a COVID safe manner and in a safe environment.
"Industry is ready to play its part and the government needs to ensure that industry is closely consulted in determining the extent and the detail of the restrictions.
"Consultation will help ensure restrictions are as flexible as possible and prevent the illogical application of rules. We need an approach that shuts down those areas where there are real issues while commercial operations are maintained to the greatest extent possible.
"There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Measures that were previously in place in Victoria were well understood and creating new measures such as the problematic mask rule for manufacturing workers will lead to confusion and lack of compliance.
"With no job keeper support available the lockdown will have a major impact on businesses of all sizes. It was very disappointing that no support measures for business were announced today which reinforces the view of Victorian businesses that they are not being treated as a priority and some have suggested they are an after-thought in dealing with COVID. The potential longer-term consequences must be considered and support provided where most needed.
"Victoria is already losing economically as businesses diversify their risk away from the State. We are ready to work closely with Government to develop processes that enable businesses to remain open and that limit the economic impacts on the State," Mr Piper said.
Further comment: Tim Piper – 0411 430 301
