Invest
Melbourne lockdown extended as state seeks JobKeeper-style help from federal govt
Invest
Melbourne lockdown extended as state seeks JobKeeper-style help from federal govt
Victoria is not exiting lockdown at 11.59pm on Thursday, after it recorded an additional six locally acquired cases on Wednesday, taking the total number to 60.
Melbourne lockdown extended as state seeks JobKeeper-style help from federal govt
Victoria is not exiting lockdown at 11.59pm on Thursday, after it recorded an additional six locally acquired cases on Wednesday, taking the total number to 60.
Parts of Victoria will remain in lockdown for another 7 days as the authorities race to contain the extremely infectious strain of COVID spreading throughout the state. Victoria's Treasurer is also on the phone to Treasurer Frydenberg for JobKeeper style support for Victorians, but more will be known once the talks have been completed, the Acting Premier said on Wednesday.
The terms of the lockdown will change slightly for Melbourne, but city-based businesses will be required to keep their doors shut for another week. In regional Victoria, however, the restrictions will ease as of Thursday midnight.
Melburnians will only be able to leave home for five reasons, including authorised work, caregiving, compassionate and medical reasons, essential shopping and exercise, and for vaccination purposes. They will, however, have an expanded 10 km radius, up from the 5 km currently in place, while students in years 11 and 12 will return to face-to-face learning on Friday.
All hospitality venues in the state capital will have to keep their doors locked for another 7 days, but will be permitted to provide takeaway, while non-essential retail will only be open for click and collect. Gyms, hairdressers, community facilities and entertainment venues, are also expected to remain closed at least for another week.
Shops like supermarkets, food stores, bottle shops, banks, petrol stations and pharmacies will however continue to operate as usual.
A number of outdoor jobs will be added to the exempted list, such as gardening.
Rules for regional Victoria
From 11.59 pm on Thursday, restriction will ease in regional Victoria, with Victorians able to leave home for reasons other than the 5 in place in Melbourne.
Food and hospitality will also open for seated visits only, with a cap of 50 patrons. Retail and beauty services will also resume services where masks can be worn.
"Businesses that are open in regional Victoria but closed in Melbourne, so restaurants and beauty, for example, must check the IDs of everyone they serve," Mr Merlino said.
Regional Victorians will also be permitted to travel to Melbourne but only for "a permitted reason".
Outdoor gatherings will no longer be limited to two people, but a cap of 10 will be in place from Friday.
Moreover, outdoor entertainment will have a patron cap of 50 people or 50 per cent of the venue's seating capacity, whichever is lower.
Further support
As debate about the need to resurrect JobKeeper continues, Victoria is upping support for businesses with a further $209 million on top of the $250.7 million already announced to help up to 90,000 Victorian businesses that have been affected by the restrictions.
The package features three initiatives for small- to medium-sized businesses and sole traders.
In announcing the additional support, Acting Premier James Merlino said he knows businesses are doing it tough, but the lockdown is necessary.
“The circuit-breaker action will keep Victorians safe and protect businesses and jobs — but we know it’s not easy shutting your doors and putting your plans on hold,” the acting Premier said.
“This support will help businesses pay the bills and maintain their workforce as best they can, as we work together to get through this challenge.”
RELATED ARTICLES
-
Australia’s spending surprise raises the odds of a February rate move — here’s how to protect margin and momentum
-
Australia’s inflation cools to 3.4% — why the RBA’s next move still isn’t a lay‑up for business
-
Inflation cools to 3.4% — but the RBA’s reaction function keeps businesses on a knife-edge
About the author
About the author
Economy
Australia’s spending surprise raises the odds of a February rate move — here’s how to protect margin and momentum
Household outlays are running hotter than economists expected, with the latest ABS readings showing broad-based gains across services and goods. That resilience is exactly the kind of demand impulse ...Read more
Economy
Australia’s inflation cools to 3.4% — why the RBA’s next move still isn’t a lay‑up for business
Headline inflation easing is good optics; balance sheets feel something different. With year‑on‑year CPI down to 3.4% in November from 3.8%, hopes for rate relief are rising — but policymakers remain ...Read more
Economy
Inflation cools to 3.4% — but the RBA’s reaction function keeps businesses on a knife-edge
Australia’s headline CPI edged down to 3.4% year-on-year in November, from 3.8%, easing immediate pressure but not eliminating the risk of further tightening. With services inflation sticky and ...Read more
Economy
Higher-for-longer, not higher forever: How Australia’s inflation ‘surprise’ is rewriting CFO playbooks for 2026
Australia’s latest inflation pulse eased but didn’t budge bank outlooks: near‑term rate cuts are still a long shot, with some houses flagging upside risk. That steadier‑for‑longer cash rate is pushing ...Read more
Economy
Australia's inflation illusion: the real challenge lies in pricing power and productivity
Headline inflation has cooled to 3.4% year-on-year, but the Reserve Bank’s caution—and a still‑hot housing backdrop—mean the rate threat hasn’t left the room. For boards, the next few quarters are ...Read more
Economy
When house prices lift, tills ring: A case study in turning Australia’s wealth effect into growth
Australia’s latest upswing in household wealth, anchored by higher dwelling values, is more than a feel‑good statistic—it is a profit and planning signal. The ABS notes property’s centrality to ...Read more
Economy
RBA's hawkish stance reflects inflation concerns, State Street economist comments
In a recent statement, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has signaled a hawkish stance on interest rates, drawing insights from financial experts about the implications for Australia's economic ...Read more
Economy
Navigating the inflation maze: How CFOs can outsmart economic hurdles in Australia
Fresh inflation data have cooled expectations of near-term rate cuts in Australia, intensifying pressure on margins, capital allocation and demand. Rather than wait for monetary relief that may not ...Read more
Economy
Australia’s spending surprise raises the odds of a February rate move — here’s how to protect margin and momentum
Household outlays are running hotter than economists expected, with the latest ABS readings showing broad-based gains across services and goods. That resilience is exactly the kind of demand impulse ...Read more
Economy
Australia’s inflation cools to 3.4% — why the RBA’s next move still isn’t a lay‑up for business
Headline inflation easing is good optics; balance sheets feel something different. With year‑on‑year CPI down to 3.4% in November from 3.8%, hopes for rate relief are rising — but policymakers remain ...Read more
Economy
Inflation cools to 3.4% — but the RBA’s reaction function keeps businesses on a knife-edge
Australia’s headline CPI edged down to 3.4% year-on-year in November, from 3.8%, easing immediate pressure but not eliminating the risk of further tightening. With services inflation sticky and ...Read more
Economy
Higher-for-longer, not higher forever: How Australia’s inflation ‘surprise’ is rewriting CFO playbooks for 2026
Australia’s latest inflation pulse eased but didn’t budge bank outlooks: near‑term rate cuts are still a long shot, with some houses flagging upside risk. That steadier‑for‑longer cash rate is pushing ...Read more
Economy
Australia's inflation illusion: the real challenge lies in pricing power and productivity
Headline inflation has cooled to 3.4% year-on-year, but the Reserve Bank’s caution—and a still‑hot housing backdrop—mean the rate threat hasn’t left the room. For boards, the next few quarters are ...Read more
Economy
When house prices lift, tills ring: A case study in turning Australia’s wealth effect into growth
Australia’s latest upswing in household wealth, anchored by higher dwelling values, is more than a feel‑good statistic—it is a profit and planning signal. The ABS notes property’s centrality to ...Read more
Economy
RBA's hawkish stance reflects inflation concerns, State Street economist comments
In a recent statement, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has signaled a hawkish stance on interest rates, drawing insights from financial experts about the implications for Australia's economic ...Read more
Economy
Navigating the inflation maze: How CFOs can outsmart economic hurdles in Australia
Fresh inflation data have cooled expectations of near-term rate cuts in Australia, intensifying pressure on margins, capital allocation and demand. Rather than wait for monetary relief that may not ...Read more
