COVID OUTBREAK ANOTHER BLOW FOR VICTORIA

Premier Daniel Andrews has announced Victoria will enter a five-day lockdown from 11.59pm tonight, Thursday 15 July 2021.

The Victorian Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia Danni Hunter said Victoria’s construction sector would continue to operate during the lockdown.

“As it has during previous lockdowns, the property and construction industry will work closely with the Victorian Government to ensure the building and construction sector can continue to operate safely and responsibly and keep Victorians in work and projects from coming to a standstill,” she said.

“Victoria’s largest industry has ensured the health and safety of our workforce throughout the pandemic by having industry-wide COVID-safety guidelines implemented on worksites which has kept workers safe and our industry open.”

The Property Council continues to work closely with the Victorian Government to provide rapid advice on the impacts of lockdown on the property and construction industry, as well as the ongoing issues facing the CBD and Victoria’s longer term economic recovery.

Ms Hunter said while the Government’s priority was rightly to protect Victorians, it must remain mindful of the costs incurred by the community from another lockdown.

“While protecting the health and safety of the community is paramount, every lockdown is regrettable and has a lasting impact on Victoria’s economic recovery”, she said.

“Victorians are suffering from lockdown fatigue and this latest lockdown is a huge blow, particularly for Melbourne’s CBD which is still trying to recover from previous lockdowns.

“It was only last week that the mask mandate for city workers was lifted and this latest lockdown will set back our recovery.  Melbourne is the business, cultural and recreational hub of Victoria and responsible for 25 per cent of our gross state product and seven per cent of gross national product.

“Once we emerge from this latest lockdown we will all need to redouble our efforts to revitalise Melbourne, particularly as we head into Spring and major events like the AFL Finals and Spring Racing Carnival. It also reinforces the need for all Victorians who are eligible to receive the vaccine to be vaccinated as quickly as possible.”

Media contact: Eric Allilomou M: 0448 291 236 E: [email protected]