States now hold key to business confidence

State Premiers and Territory Ministers now hold the key to boosting national business confidence, one of the fundamental economic and recovery drivers, following National Cabinet’s meeting today.

The new framework for reopening, announced by the Prime Minister today, builds off the earlier three-step plan. It links for the first time health metrics with the easing of restrictions and adopts guiding principles underpinning the framework which ACCI has long advocated for.

“It is a positive move which provides the necessary detail to guide states and territories to act consistently in adopting a proportionate and targeted health response,” ACCI CEO James Pearson said.

“If State and Territory Governments adopt this plan, which we strongly encourage them to do, it should go a long way to providing businesses with desperately needed certainty about the path to easing restrictions.

“It is now up to states and territories to provide confidence to business and the community by committing now to completing step two of the plan by the beginning of December, at the latest, and, subject to health conditions, completing step three by Christmas.

“We now have a clear roadmap. We want to see more certainty around dates and delivery from the states and territories.  Without that certainty, it will put businesses under enormous pressure.

“If a State or Territory Government is not prepared to commit to the national roadmap, they owe it to the community to explain why, given the detail in the plan and the proportionate approach that has been proposed.

“Many businesses have been proactive in identifying actions they can take to improve safety and tracing capabilities.

“We encourage any business who needs support implementing a COVIDSafe Plan to contact their local or state chamber of commerce or industry association as a matter of priority.”