Hopes eased rules will boost Melbourne CBD

Victoria’s vaccine mandates are set to be tested by the state’s independent pandemic committee.

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Victoria’s vaccine mandates are set to be tested by the state’s independent pandemic committee.

The newly formed Independent Pandemic Management Advisory Committee will be asked to review the general worker vaccine mandates after the Liberal Democrats successfully passed a motion in the upper house on Wednesday.

The committee, which was publicly announced last week, will also be asked to look at Victoria’s open premises order.

It can review, provide advice and make recommendations to the health minister Martin Foley on existing orders.

The minister must consider any reviews initiated by the committee.

Experts on the panel include former Chair of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system, Penny Armytage, and infectious diseases physician and public health physician Associate Professor Joseph Doyle.

The motion was put forward by Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan and Victorian Senate candidate David Limbrick.

“This could be the first glimmer of hope for hundreds of thousands of Victorians currently excluded from the vaccinated economy,” Mr Limbrick said.

The committee’s report must be tabled in Parliament withing four sitting days of it being given to Mr Foley.

OFFICE WORKERS DUE TO RETURN

Victoria has recorded 6929 new Covid cases and 17 deaths in the 24 hours to Wednesday.

There are currently 319 people in hospital, including 22 in ICU and eight people on ventilators.

It comes as office workers are finally set to return to their desks from Monday, with industry leaders confident Melbourne’s long-suffering CBD can finally begin its rebuild.

The state government’s “strong recommendation” for people to work from home if they can will be dropped at 11.59pm on Friday, along with the indoor mask mandate in most settings.

Premier Daniel Andrews also flagged an end to the ­quarantine requirement for ­asymptomatic household contacts of positive cases, in a move ­expected to avert the worker shortages that struck sectors during the Omicron wave.

“There’s a lot of work going into that. It’s a big shift, though, and it could well mean there are more cases, so you’ve got to do it carefully,” Mr ­Andrews said.

He said the relaxation of masks in most settings was a “really good outcome”.

Last Friday, Victoria Police sent an email ordering all ­employees back to the office on February 28.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the scaling back of restrictions would help significantly to ­recharge the city.

“The shackles are off and people can now feel confident to come back into the city for work,” Ms Capp said.

Mask rules across the state have been eased.. Picture: Sarah Matray

“We’ve endured two years of ordinary. Two years of ­staring at the same four walls.

“It’s time to move, to interact with new faces, and to feel that sense of discovery again.

“We know the rhythm of the city has changed, we know we need to earn your commute. We are doing everything we can to entice you back ­because we believe in this city and its possibilities.”

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said this easing was “the signal we have been waiting for”.

“There are no impediments left for workers to return to ­offices and we can now get every part of Victoria up and running,” Mr Guerra said.

“It’s what CBD businesses who rely on the office worker trade have been desperately seeking, and they now have certainty to plan for the return of their usual clientele from next week.

“It is now time for our leaders to have the conversation with employees and get this happening in a way that works for their organisation.”

Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said the removal of masks in most indoor settings was a practical move.

The Victorian head of the peak employer ­association Ai Group Tim Piper said it was a “boost for the community and the economy”.

“Employers know there will be a reluctance from some to return to work – for many reasons – and no doubt the changes to working arrangements will occur over the next few weeks, but this announcement is a signal that it is time to return to greater normality and we should get used to it,” Mr Piper said.

But the decision to keep hospitality workers masked ­indoors has been slammed by prominent Melbourne restaurateur Chris Lucas.

“Our brave staff have worn face masks throughout one the hottest summers on record and were very much looking forward to being free of this useless practice,” he said.

It’s hope the eased restrictions will encourage more people back into the CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul Jeffers

“It’s beyond disgraceful that the Victorian government is dragging on with their Covid hysteria at a time when we should be celebrating and getting back to a normal life.

“To single out hospitality says more about the incompetence and pigheadedness of a government that has lost its way and simply doesn’t care about workers.”

The state government also announced that remaining ­restrictions on elective surgery would lift from Monday.