By Oliver Lees
A Sunbury business advocate is calling for greater understanding of the needs of the community as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease.
The state recorded 1377 cases in the 24 hours to Monday morning, taking the total number of active cases in the state to 12,711.
Last week Premier Daniel Andrews announced that every authorised worker in Victoria will need to have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if they wish to continue attending their workplace on October 15.
“This is about making sure that we go that extra mile to protect the road map to opening … and to make sure that we can open, be free, and not have a health system overwhelmed with patients who are completely avoidable,” Mr Andrews said.
Sunbury Business Association president Michael Osborne said this requirement would put further strain on businesses.
“I think it’s putting undue pressure on businesses, when they’ve already gone through the hardest time of their lives,” Mr Osborne said.
“Already local businesses are experiencing abuse in relation to mandating QR codes and mandatory wearing of masks. This will just increase the pressure on small businesses.
Mr Osborne said the current roadmap – which outlines regional and metropolitan Victorian returning to the same restrictions on November 5 – needs to be reconsidered as Sunbury businesses rely on the Macedon Ranges.
“Around 40 per cent of business in unbury is generated from Macedon Ranges, we desperately need that border lifted,” he said.
“Even though there is a roadmap it’s still not a clear roadmap, there are too many forks in the road,” he said.
“Small business is still just expecting to hear another reason why we need to be locked down again. A recent survey on small business by Mainstreet Australia found the overwhelming feeling was one of despair.
“Despair, that’s the key word.”
