6715 new cases, 16 deaths; Victoria’s Covid recovery ‘playbook’ revealed

Sixteen Victorians have died with Covid as cases swelled again. Meanwhile, authorities are set to unveil more than 189 ideas aimed at helping Victoria recover from the pandemic.

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A further 6715 new Covid cases and 16 deaths have been announced in Victoria.

Hospital admissions and the number of intensive care patients remain steady.

There are 41,257 active cases across the state.

Meanwhile, a bold action plan containing 189 ideas to help rebuild Victoria after the pandemic will be unveiled on Thursday — the culmination of months of work and brainstorming from the state’s leaders.

The playbook for post-Covid recovery emerged from a first-ever Victoria Summit featuring a collaboration from dozens of leaders in the business, education, environment and social sectors.

The summit was the brainchild of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which hosted three public forums and several working groups.

Among its priority actions are urgent tax reform, a one-stop concierge for businesses to access government services, the creation of a culture of paid internships, cutting the cost of tertiary education, the elimination of landfill waste by 2035 and the establishment of a “youth guarantee” to ensure all young Victorians are in a job or training.

VECCI is set to reveal its playbook for post-Covid recovery. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The plan also called for the creation of year 13 for students to make better choices, a push to attract more international workers, establish Victoria as a leader in the decarbonised economy and expand childcare support to get more women into the workforce.

VECCI chief executive Paul Guerra said it was now up to individuals, organisations, governments and the community to turn the visions into reality.

“Pick them up and run with it,’’ he said.

The playbook is the result of more than 10,000 hours of work and it will be passed on to all governments – and oppositions – to revive all sectors hit by the pandemic.

VECCI chief executive Paul Guerra.

The Victorian Summit 2021 Playbook will be officially launched on February 24.

“It’s a proud moment,’’ Mr Guerra said.

“This is a unique document of its time.’’

No other state is believed to have held an ideas summit to plan the fightback, he said.

Mr Guerra hoped the playbook would have an impact on policy-making especially during a double election year in Victoria.

Up to 100 leaders from all sectors took part with lead roles taken by Swinburne University vice-chancellor Pascale Quester, Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari, Australian Industry Group’s state leader Tim Piper, Aware Super chief of staff Debra Mika, Aurecon chief operating officer Louise Adams and Victorian Council of Social Service chief executive Emma King.

Ms King said the summit showed that a broad cross-section of the community wanted to talk about solutions.

“We realised that there was far more that people had in common.’’

Ms King said she was heartened that the summit embraced the “wellbeing economy”, which had come into focus during the pandemic as loneliness and mental health issues took a toll.

Mr Guerra said the playbook would help make Victoria the best place to live, learn, work and operate business.