Covid-19: Daniel Andrews ‘must focus on CBD rebound’

The Committee for Melbourne has called on the Andrews government to change its narrative of the pandemic and focus on vaccine numbers rather than the growing infection rates.

Melbourne has taken another massive hit, with the Delta variant spreading fast and forcing an ­indefinite extension of the city’s hard lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

The Committee for Melbourne has called on the Andrews government to change its narrative of the pandemic and focus on vaccine numbers rather than the growing infection rates, saying the time has come to fast-track planning for the city’s recovery.

The committee welcomed Premier Dan Andrews‘ abandonment of the state’s zero Covid-19 target but said the government was not doing enough to collaborate with those industries that have been smashed by the pandemic.

The committee, whose 150 members span large and small businesses, universities and community groups, said Melbourne’s recovery from the repeated lockdowns could take anywhere ­between two and 10 years and needed huge and urgent support from the government.

It comes at a time when Melbourne has taken another massive hit, with the Delta variant spreading fast and forcing an ­indefinite extension of the city’s hard lockdown.

“We cannot wait for the eradication of Covid-19 to plan for our economic and community recovery,” committee chairman Scott Tanner and chief executive ­Martine Letts said. “Victorians can exercise for longer but still not produce, perform or sell anything much.

“We need to move the narrative beyond infection numbers and focus on vaccination numbers, and the effectiveness of vaccinations reducing serious illness and death.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has recently switched her focus to vaccination rates rather than cases, saying vaccines are the only way to regain freedoms in her state, given the uncontrolled outbreak there.

The committee urged Mr ­Andrews to do more to communicate with those industries that would be crucial to restoring Melbourne’s economy and community once the city reopened.

“What we have not seen enough of is collaboration with the productive sector of our community, the business, knowledge, performing, hospitality, service and visitor sectors which are being severely damaged by these extensive restrictions,’ the committee said.

Melbourne’s CBD has been the hardest hit in the nation during the pandemic. On September 23 Melbourne will surpass the world record for lockdown days of 234, currently held by Buenos Aires.

The committee warned that the city faced an economic crisis that could be much more serious in the longer term than the health crisis posed by Covid-19.

“The majority of our members tell us that they expect Melbourne’s economic recovery from Covid-19 to take between two and five years. Some say between five and 10 years,” the committee said.

It urged the Andrews government not to back away from the national plan for Covid restrictions to ease once vaccination targets of 70 per cent and 80 per cent of the eligible population were reached.

“We need … a commitment to reopen for good once government mandated vaccination targets are met,” the committee said. “Our city is the beating heart of our state’s economy, and we must focus on its recovery for the state to fully recover.

“Melbourne’s heart and soul – the performing, sporting and events sectors – have gone into ­hibernation and are haemorrhaging staff. They don’t just need short term relief, they need bums on seats, continuously, with support, like insurance, to accommodate multi-year planning horizons.”