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CEOs say stop case numbers obsession

Lucas Baird, Angela Macdonald-Smith and Carrie LaFrenz

Aug 23, 2021 – 5.00pm

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Business leaders have backed calls by the Prime Minister and NSW Premier for state leaders to move on from an obsession with daily COVID-19 case numbers and, once vaccination targets are hit, to stick to the plan of reopening their borders and economies.

Ampol chief executive Matt Halliday said the effect of lockdowns on Australians’ mental health was being “underestimated”.

Lucas Baird is a journalist based in The Australian Financial Review's Sydney office.

Angela Macdonald-Smith writes on the resources industry with a focus on energy, including gas, oil, electricity and renewables.

Carrie LaFrenz is a senior journalist covering retail/consumer goods. She previously covered healthcare/biotech. Carrie has won multiple awards for her journalism including financial journalist of the year from The National Press Club.