The Australian Industry Group has called on the Victorian State Government to allow the current worker permits being used by industry to be extended into the second period of lockdown.
“The unnecessary administrative burden caused by the need to renew worker permits in Victoria is a costly mistake that could have been avoided with consultation that informed better planning,” Tim Piper, Victorian Head of the national employer association Ai Group said today.
“A much simpler and more sensible legislative approach is to honour worker permits for the duration of the lockdown period. New permits would result in unnecessary stress for workers and businesses already suffering from some of the strictest lockdown rules in the world.
“What it means for businesses is that they will be required to replace thousands of permits or their workers face police stops and fines. One of our members in an essential health sector will be forced to resubmit 600 permit applications. This onerous regulatory burden is the last thing needed by businesses already disappointed by the impossible roadmap to recovery released on Sunday.
“Rather than burden business further the Government should do all in its power to either honour existing permits or quickly regulate their ongoing validity.
“Our government needs to be less rigid in its announcements and more consultative in developing them or the resistance to its measures will increase and compliance will be reduced,” Mr Piper said.
