Business group launches sweeping survey to make sure business interests are included in election promises

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce has called on businesses to weigh in with their biggest worries ahead of next year’s state election, to highlight issues such as taxes, red tape, energy costs — and especially crime.

With one year out until the state election, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has launched a new survey to bring the concerns of businesses to the front of campaigning politicians’ minds.

The Chamber hopes it can give business a “direct voice” in shaping what it will push the government to commit to ahead of the next election in November 2026.

All businesses in the state have been invited to complete the survey, which VCCI expects to receive thousands of responses.

Retail crime is a big concern for Victorian businesses. Picture: David Crosling

It will gauge businesses’ performance in the last 12 months, if they have recovered since the Covid pandemic, issues with staffing and investment and where opportunities are emerging in Victoria.

It will also ask whether taxes, crime and red tape have hurt Victorian businesses.

VCCI chief Sally Curtain said it would be the “first big test of business sentiments” to understand how they are “feeling and thinking” going into the election year.

“We expect strong responses,” she said.

“Certainly things like taxes, energy costs, red tape, cost pressures, skill shortages, but quite possibly in this instance, crime.”

Crime has become an escalating concern for Victorian businesses. Picture: Nine News

Business say they fear for the safety of their staff. Picture: Josie Hayden

Crime has become an escalating concern for Victorian businesses, with nine out of ten employers in the state telling a recent survey from VCCI that they fear for the safety of their staff.

The state accounts for 35 per cent of all national retail crime incidents, with 82,152 incidents in 2024 — a 27.6 per cent increase from the year before.

She said that VCCI members were already raising concerns about those areas, but the survey will allow them to present a clear vision for Victoria to potential governments.

“I think business is looking for a clear vision,” Ms Curtain said.

“If you think historically we’ve been, you know, the centre of manufacturing for the nation.
“So we want business want to line up behind a vision.”

The survey will gauge businesses’ performance in the past 12 months, if they have recovered since the Covid pandemic. Picture: Penny Stephens

She said the “collective voices” of Victorian businesses could make a more compelling pitch to political parties.

“To have this on scale right across from regional Victoria to metropolitan Melbourne and the Melbourne CBD, we’ll get that full realm of perspective across every industry.

“So it becomes very powerful when you have those collective voices and it will become compelling to all political parties.”

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Sally Curtain. Picture: Supplied

Ahead of the election the Chamber will run a “rolling” scorecard for all the political parties, monitoring their announcements and rating them according to how constructive they are to business interests in the state.

Businesses looking to fill out the survey can find it at victorianchamber.com.au/electionsurvey2026.

Results will be released a few weeks after the closing date on Wednesday, 10 December after the data has been analysed.

Originally published as Business group launches sweeping survey to make sure business interests are included in election promises