“The failure of the Victorian Government to today provide guidelines for the reopening of Melbourne is a hammer blow for business confidence,” Innes Willox Chief Executive of the national employer association Ai Group said today.
“The decision reflects a clear lack of confidence by the Government in its own testing and tracing systems. That a city of 5 million people can continue to be locked down because of a handful of cases in a contained geographic area beggars belief.
“Today’s decision also gives industry no confidence that any easing when eventually announced will not be reversed at the drop of a hat by the Victorian Government.
“The Government needs to recognise the impact on every life in Melbourne. There is an opportunity to open safely with COVID measures in some areas of Melbourne and keep other areas more isolated.
“Business owners and leaders had been encouraged by developments and comments indicating that a reopening would be announced today.
“Today’s reversal is a shock and undermines any remaining confidence that the Victorian Government knows what it is doing to open the state’s economy,” Mr Willox said.
