CHANGES to Victoria and NSW’s COVID-19 health measures have been welcomed property and retail industry leaders, with working set to be relocated back to offices and masks to be lifted.
The Victorian state government has announced major changes to COVID advice, with working from home recommendations and indoor mask requirements at offices to end from 11.59pm on 25 February.
The Property Council of Australia welcomed the changes in Victoria, citing the state’s high vaccination rates and calling for renewed efforts towards reviving the Melbourne CBD.
“Melbourne’s CBD is the epicentre of Victoria’s economy. Removing the COVID restrictions from our offices means we can roll out the welcome mat and get the beating heart of Melbourne pumping once again,” said Danni Hunter, Victorian executive director at the Property Council of Australia.
“Melbourne is ready to transition from surviving to thriving and our CBD workers have been the missing piece. Our offices are ready to welcome back our people – to reconnect, reboot and supercharge our economic recovery.”
Hunter and the council are now calling for a more long term approach to CBD reactivation than the Melbourne City Recovery Fund, which “crucial” is a short-term step.
Beyond another campaign like the FOMO Fridays campaign from 2021, the council is urging the government to convene a summit on the future of the Melbourne CBD within the next to months.
Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association hailed the government’s move as a “practical step” bringing workers back to the offices and to bring activity back into the CBD.
“The office occupancy rate in Melbourne is languishing at 4% – the lowest out of all the capital cities in the country,” noted Zahra.
“As vaccination rates improve and the Omicron wave continues to subside, we support the sensible wind-back of restrictions to encourage more people back working in offices and increase foot traffic in the CBD to provide a much-needed boost to the city’s retail businesses.”
Zahra called for further steps from the government however, particularly wanting masks to be only “encouraged” for retail workers across the state, to better align with recommendations in NSW.
Changes to health measures in Victoria follow NSW government’s move last week to leave working from home decisions up to “employers discretion”, and similarly roll back mask mandates in the majority of indoor settings, also on 25 February.
While also welcoming this decision, the Property Council of Australia has urged the NSW government to also shape its migration policy to address skill shortages in the hotel and hospitality industry.
“During the border closures the hotel and hospitality sector struggled to have enough staff to operate, so now is the time for intervention and aid from our government as we welcome tourists back to our shores, said Luke Achterstraat, NSW executive director of the Property Council.
As it is anticipated to take up until 2025 for international migration to reach 2019 levels, Achterstraat is calling for a move to see the training and promotion of domestic hospitality jobs.
“We’re pleased to see our two largest states – Victoria and NSW – working together in their approach to relaxing restrictions and living with the virus in a safe and responsible way. QR codes have now been removed in retail settings in both states, which is a welcome relief,” added Zahra.
In Victoria, from the 25th, masks will only be required on public transport, in taxis and rideshares, on planes and at airports. In addition to people working at or visiting hospitals or care facilities.
Beyond healthcare, workers in hospitality, retail, primary schools and early childcare centres and the court system and justice and correctional facilities will also still be required to mask up. With primary school children above year also required to wear masks while at school.
Finally, besides those with COVID-19 or close contacts, people working at an indoor event that exceeds 30,000 attendants will still be required to wear a mask.
