Business slams Victoria's 'eradication' lockdown

Tom Burton, Hannah Wootton and Patrick Durkin

Sep 7, 2020 – 12.00am

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Business leaders accused the Andrews government of trying to eradicate COVID-19 in Victoria and refusing to listen to industries that have been operating safely, after Premier Daniel Andrews revealed a reopening plan that will keep many businesses shut until late October.

Most Victorian business have been under tight restrictions since mid-March and with stage four restrictions to continue for at least another fortnight the state has been under one of the longest and hardest lockdowns of any region in the world, according to Oxford University's stringency index.

Tom Burton has held senior editorial and publishing roles with The Mandarin, The Sydney Morning Herald and as Canberra bureau chief for The Australian Financial Review. He has won three Walkley awards.

Hannah Wootton is a Rear Window columnist, based in Melbourne.

Patrick Durkin is Melbourne bureau chief and BOSS deputy editor. He writes on news, business and leadership.