Lord Mayor Sally Capp savaged for ‘Covid was good for us’ speech

Lord Mayor Sally Capp has been savaged over her remarks about Covid being “good for Melbourne”, with calls for her to step down.

The state’s key business lobby group has slammed comments from Lord Mayor Sally Capp that Covid “was good” for Melbourne.

Ms Capp is set to give a speech on Friday in which she will argue the Melbourne CBD has emerged a “bolder, braver, better place” after Covid and some of the world’s longest lockdowns.

“There aren’t many who will stand in front of a crowd like this and say Covid has been good for anything or anyone,” Ms Capp is scheduled to say at the TedxMelbourne event.

“But I’m here to do just that.”

Ms Capp will argue economic activity within the city has bounded back to pre-pandemic levels and is expected to hit $150bn by 2031, according to an early copy of the speech released to media.

“Now that’s what I call lockdown to boomtown,” the address says.

“It’s not just despite the hardship and devastation of the pandemic, but because of the hardship and devastation of the pandemic, that our community imagined and accelerates Melbourne as a bolder, braver, better place.”

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra savaged the comments on Friday, saying Ms Capp was “trying to pretend Covid didn’t happen”.

“There was nothing good that came out of Covid,” he said.

“I don’t think there would be a single business owner out there that would even remotely think that Covid has been good.

“We couldn’t access the city for extended periods, hotels were basically at zero occupancy, restaurants and pubs closed, hairdressers and other specialty retailers closed, people lost their jobs.

“There was nothing good that came out of Covid. People died, people got sick, our lives changed, business collapsed, it was bloody scary.”

Ms Capp says Covid has been good for Melbourne. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Guerra said it was absurd to suggest the city had bounced back with the CBD occupancy rate running at little more than 40 per cent and international students still not back.

The income lost during the Covid period, as well as the cancellation of major events, could never be regained, he said.

“Our international reputation has been smashed,” he said.

“Look at the divide, at the rallies and rubber bullets – that were televised all over the world. I’ve just been in Paris and London – they are recovering.”

Premier reserves judgement

Daniel Andrews refused to address Cr Capp’s comments, instead stating: “That’s a matter for her”.

“I think that a one in 100 year pandemic event has been incredibly challenging and it’s caused a lot of pain,” he said on Friday.

“But at the same time, Victorians stuck together. They got vaccinated in record terms. They worked together, (they had) that sense of connection and compassion and kindness.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Victorians across our state for all that they’ve given for all they’ve done.”

‘It’s just ridiculous for her to say that’

Salvatore Cultrera, who has owned Cafe Notturno on Lygon St for more than 20 years, said Ms Capp’s comments were “outrageous”.

“We’re still recovering from the pandemic. We can’t even open for lunch like we used to, our day trade is non-existent at the moment, it’s just ridiculous for her to say that,” Mr Cultera said.

“So many people and businesses lost their livelihoods. We were one of the lucky ones that stayed afloat but so many businesses in Lygon St and Melbourne’s CBD shut their doors permanently.

“I can’t think of anything good that’s come out of Covid, I don’t know why she would say that.”

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said Ms Capp was “tremendously out of touch” for making her comments.

“I see in so many kids learning difficulties related to Covid and the longest lockdowns in Australia, which the Andrews Government gave us,” he said on Friday.

“For anyone to say somehow that was beneficial for the small businesses who lost their jobs, who I’m desperately trying to help get back on their feet – anyone who thinks that was a good thing I think is just tremendously out of touch.”

When asked if Ms Capp was “tone deaf” to the issue, Mr Guy replied: “That’s pretty much the best way to put it”.

Former Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood says Ms Capp’s comments are ‘staggering’. Picture: Alex Coppel

Ms Capp’s former deputy Arron Wood has also taken aim at the Lord Mayor over her “staggering” comments.

“Covid certainly wasn’t the best thing to happen to our wonderful city, to our kids, small businesses or to people who lost loved ones,” he wrote on social media.

“For anyone to say that is staggering.

“We will come back, but it’s going to take a whole lot of work, commitment and leadership.

“It won’t just happen because we say so.”

Ratepayers’ Victoria spokesman Dean Hurlston said: “While we understand what Ms Capp is trying to convey, her comments are really insensitive and hurtful for thousands of businesses that are still trying to recover.”

“It is deeply hurtful for anyone to suggest that Covid was anything other than painful for our entire state,” he said.

ANZ chief Shayne Elliott said CBD corporate employers were “struggling” and the banking major rarely had more than half of its employees at its Melbourne headquarters at any one time.

“I know it’s been really tough for ANZ and all our customers,” Mr Elliott told 3AW on Friday.

“We are struggling. Tuesdays to Thursdays are better than Monday and Fridays but we are still struggling.”

Ms Capp’s comments that Melbourne is a ‘bolder, braver, better place’ because of Covid have been lashed. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Mr Elliott warned employees who were spending too many days away from the office risked promotions by missing out on on-the-job training.

“We have bought into a belief that it’s ok for people to work from home and that their career progression and everything will be alright, and productivity is going to be the same and I don’t think that is true and I think we are deluding ourselves,” he said.

“I don’t think that is sustainable and I don’t think that is in their (employees) interests,

particularly those that are ambitious and want to get ahead in life and seek promotions and learning, I don’t think that is good for them.

“How do you learn? We are a team sport in banking, you learn from working with others. It’s the informal way of learning, observing others, observing behaviors, spending time having a chat with people at the water cooler, all of that stuff matters.

“Of course there is a role for working from home… but we can’t give up on the idea that being around others, being in a team is ultimately the best way for people to learn and develop and grow their careers, in our industry anyway.”

A City of Melbourne spokeswoman justified Ms Capps comments as a “reflection” on the impact of the pandemic.

“In her speech the Lord Mayor tells the story of how the Covid pandemic affected Melbourne and its people for an international audience,” the spokeswoman said.

“She (Ms Capp) reflects on the devastation of lockdowns and restrictions, the pain they caused and how these experiences have made Melburnians more resilient.

“The Lord Mayor details how Melbourne is bouncing back and explains the work being done to make Melbourne a more vibrant, inclusive and sustainable city.”

Originally published as Lord Mayor Sally Capp savaged for ‘Covid was good for us’ speech