BHP, Orica lead Melbourne CEO calls for Daniel Andrews to end lockdown

Melbourne’s most powerful corporate bosses write to Daniel Andrews to demand faster path to returning to work.

BHP CEO Mike Henry. Picture: Aaron Francis

Melbourne’s most powerful corporate bosses have made a dramatic intervention in the battle over Victoria’s lockdown, with BHP boss Mike Henry and Orica managing director Alberto Calderon collecting CEO signatures on a letter demanding Premier Daniel Andrews open up faster.

The letter, seen by The Australian and which includes signatories from gold miners to soft-drink makers, says the lockdown is “not sustainable” and calls on Mr Andrews to lift restrictions to get the state back to work, and ease the mental health and economic burden on Victorians.

It is believed the letter began circulating among corporate bosses on Sunday, after Mr Andrews failed to quicken the pace of reopening.

Melbourne-based corporate heavyweights to have joined the push include Alison Watkins, managing director of beverage giant Coca-Cola Amatil; Sandeep Biswas, chief executive of the country’s biggest gold miner Newcrest, and Jeanne Johns, managing director of explosives giant Incitec Pivot.

Orica chief executive Alberto Calderon. Picture: David Geraghty

They were joined in signing the letter by Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott, and his counterpart at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Matt Comyn.

The letter goes further than mirroring broader calls from business leaders for a quicker restart for small businesses and hospitality — which Mr Andrews has flagged as his likely next step on Sunday — and urges the Premier to allow office staff to return to work to help revive Melbourne’s CBD.

It warns Victoria risks lagging behind and losing talent to other states unless Mr Andrews speeds up his road map out of lockdown.

“Our state is facing social and economic challenges of an unprecedented scale, and which will take many years to resolve. All this raises serious questions about how we will attract future talent to Victoria,” the letter says.

“We urgently need to kickstart our economy, and as leaders of some of Victoria’s biggest businesses we want to do our bit.

“We urge you now, in light of the excellent recent progress, to permit the careful and staged return to the workplace of office workers and the small businesses that provide services to them.”

BHP is Australia‘s biggest listed company, if its London shares are included, while Orica is the world’s largest provider of commercial explosives, generating $5.9bn in revenue last year.

The Victorian Premier said on Tuesday the state was well-placed to bring forward the easing of restrictions at the weekend. However, he dashed hopes that low case numbers could see hospitality venues open in time for AFL grand final day on Saturday.

He said he would not announce a loosening of restrictions on pubs, restaurants, cafes and retail before Sunday. He is expected to announce a “dark opening” for retail on Sunday, allowing workers into their shops to begin preparations for a return to trading later in the week.

Under current plans Melbourne’s office workers are not expected to be given the all-clear to return to their places of work until next year. But Melbourne’s corporate heavyweights called on Mr Andrews to pick up the pace, given the state’s success in suppressing the deadly virus.