Rita Panahi: Victorian bureaucrats’ disastrous ‘outdoor retail’ lacks common sense

Only individuals bereft of common sense and business experience could dream up something as absurd as “outdoor retail”.

Just when you think the shambolic chaos that passes for governance in this state couldn’t get any worse, the inept Victorian bureaucracy finds new and creative ways to frustrate businesses, households and even the RSL.

Only individuals bereft of common sense and business experience could dream up something as absurd as “outdoor retail” once the state reaches 70 per cent double vaccinated.

Sydneysiders began enjoying indoor retail, as well as indoor church services, indoor gyms and indoor guests to private homes upon reaching 70 per cent but long-suffering Melburnians will have to wait until 80 per cent to be granted any of those privileges.

It’s naive bordering on pig-ignorant to believe you can turn Chadstone shopping centre into the Red Hill community market for the few weeks between Victoria hitting 70 and 80 per cent double vaccinated.

Victorian businesses will have to take their business to the streets. Picture: Rob Leeson

Retail in Melbourne has suffered through a world-record lockdown, bewildering rules and red tape — the last thing it needs are harebrained schemes from bureaucrats that are unworkable in most settings.

Even the simple matter of RSL volunteers selling poppies for Remembrance Day was turned into an ordeal before Victorian health authorities were shamed into providing clarity.

As late as Tuesday night the Department of Health could not provide a straight answer to the RSL.

All the Victorian government needs to do is stick to the national roadmap and lift lockdown at 70 per cent and re-open fully at 80 per cent double vaccinated.

Instead there is mass confusion thanks to the state’s roadmap deviating from the national plan.

It’s time the hopelessly incompetent chief health officer, who has overseen the highest Covid-19 death rate in the country while inflicting the longest lockdown in the world, had his sweeping powers curtailed.

He has been a failure as has Dan Andrews, who is ultimately responsible for what occurs in this state.

The Premier is fond of saying “the buck stops with me” but he’s yet to display any understanding of what that means.