A Liberal Nationals' motion passed by the Upper House today has highlighted the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small retail and other businesses in strip shopping centres in metropolitan Melbourne and in particular, central Melbourne.
The fact is the Andrews Labor Government's mismanagement of COVID-19, its harsh lock down, its loss of control of hotel quarantine and its mismanagement of contact tracing, have all hit Melbourne's small businesses for a six.
The Upper House motion demanded Daniel Andrews urgently release a package of measure to support Melbourne's CBD. It highlighted businesses and jobs in the retail and hospitality sectors.
It also demanded an urgent support package to prevent further decline in our metro strip shopping centres. These centres are critical local community activity hubs and employment districts.
As stated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, David Davis:
"Daniel Andrews and his ministers don't seem to understand the seriousness of the impact of their blunders and mismanagement of COVID-19 on our small business sector and jobs.
"The Andrews Labor Government's recent offer provided paltry support. It simply didn't engage with the devastation of our CBD and suburban businesses. It fell seriously short."
