Victoria’s Roadmap: Delivering The National Plan | Premier of Victoria

Victoria’s Roadmap: Delivering The National Plan | Premier of Victoria

Dear Members,

New restrictions imposed on Victorian Geelong, Mitchell, and Surf Coast communities

A number of cases have been identified overnight in Greater Geelong, Mitchell Shire, and the Surf Coast. The Chief Health Officer has now declared that from 11:59 pm on Sunday 19 Sept the City of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast, and Mitchell Shire will enter a seven-day lockdown. Restrictions will be the same as those in Ballarat and metropolitan Melbourne, excluding the curfew. There are only five reasons to leave home. Shopping, exercise, and outdoor social interaction will be limited to 10km from your home. Masks will be mandatory indoors and outdoors too.

Victorian Roadmap for Reopening

The Premier’s media release is available here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/victorias-roadmap-delivering-national-plan and links to the roadmaps are available at the end of the media release.

On the question of how businesses will check the vaccination status of customers, penalties for non-compliance, and other business information, the Premier has said yesterday that was yet to be determined.  

Step 1 – from 26 September 2021

  • 80% 16+ single dose
  • Outdoor facilities open for contactless recreation – eg, golf, tennis, bows

Step 2 – from October 2021

  • Schools Return
  • 5 Oct – GAT students
  • 6 Oct – VCE Unit ¾, final year. VCAL and IB students
  • 18 Oct – Prep (Mo – Wed), Year 1 and 2 (Thurs – Fri)

Step 3 – from 26 October

  • 70% of 16+ double dose ie  National Plan Phase B)
  • No restrictions on leaving home
  • No curfew
  • Travel limit increased to 25km
  • Students return to school
  • Early child education/ care – open for children of fully vaccinated parents
  • Retail – general retail open for outdoor service only, plus click and collect/ delivery
  • Hairdressing – fully vaccinated: 5 people
  • Hospitality – food and drink seated service and outdoors only, fully vaccinated: 50 people
  • May involve reduced quarantine requirements for vaccinated residents returning from interstate
  • Public gatherings – fully vaccinated: 10 people, unvaccinated: 5
  • Entertainment venues – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
  • Religion – fully vaccinated: 50, unvaccinated: 20, outdoor only
  • Funerals – fully vaccinated: 50, unvaccinated: 20 – outdoor only
  • Weddings – fully vaccinated: 50 unvaccinated: 10 – outdoor only
  • Outdoor community sport – open for training only (not competition) Minimum number required, changing rooms closed
  • Swimming pools – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
  • Community facilities – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
  • Creative studios – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
  • Zoos – fully vaccinated: 25% capacity
  • Amusement  parks – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
  • Real estate – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoor auctions
  • Tours – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
  • Care facility visitors – easing of restrictions

Step 4 – from 5 November

  • Metropolitan Melbourne aligns with Regional Victoria (80% of 16+ fully vaccinated ie. National Plan Phase C)
  • Employment – work from home if you can OR go to work if fully vaccinated
  • Schools – on-site learning for all levels with safety measures
  • Adult education – on-site for hands on, skills-based education. On-site if fully vaccinated
  • Early child education/ care – open
  • All retail – open with DSQ4sqm per person
  • Food and drink – open for seated service. Fully vaccinated. 150 indoors, 500 outdoors, small venues can have up to 25
  • Food courts – takeaway only
  • Hairdressing, beauty, personal care – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors
  • Interstate travel – allowed
  • Interstate borders may exempt vaccinated residents from domestic restrictions, subject to National Cabinet
  • International travel – revised quarantine arrangements for fully vaccinated international arrivals, subject to National Cabinet
  • Face coverings required indoors only
  • Private gatherings – up to ten people can gather in the home
  • Public gatherings – fully vaccinated: 30 outdoors
  • Mask removal for alcohol consumption permitted for fully vaccinated
  • Religion- fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors, unvaccinated: 20
  • Funerals – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors, unvaccinated: 10
  • Weddings – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors, unvaccinated: 10
  • Physical recreation and community sport – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
  • Outdoor seated physical recreation and community sport – fully vaccinated: lesser of 25% or 5000 per venue
  • Swimming pools, spas, saunas, steam rooms, springs – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
  • Community facilities – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
  • Indoors seated and non-seated entertainment – fully vaccinated: 150 per space
  • Outdoor seated entertainment – fully vaccinated. 50% capacity
  • Arcades, escape rooms, bingo – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
  • Amusement parks – fully vaccinated: 150 per space indoors, 500 per space outdoors
  • Casino – fully vaccinated: 150 per space indoors
  • Retail betting and electronic gaming – fully vaccinated: 150indoors, 500 outdoors
  • Karaoke and nightclubs – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
  • Accommodation – open in line with private gathering limits
  • Real estate – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
  • Tours and tours transport – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors

Step 5 – from 19 November

  • 80% of 12+ fully vaccinated ie National Plan – progression to the final phase
  • All settings align with the National Cabinet approach
  • Private gatherings – 30 visitors to the home from 25 December 2021
  • The Government states in its roadmap: “Settings and dates are indicative and subject to change pending COVID-19 thresholds, hospitality caseloads, and health advice.

Yours sincerely,

Brendan Tohill | Chief Executive Officer
VANA – Victorian Authorised Newsagents Association
NLNA – National Lotteries Newsagents Association

The international supply chain is in crisis. Now is the time to source within Australia

The international supply chain is in crisis. Now is the time to source within Australia

The international supply chain is in crisis.

Now is the time to source within Australia.

COVID-19 has driven the global supply chain to a near crisis point, with huge delays in the supply of many types of goods across borders – especially to remote countries like Australia. 

With Christmas looming, supply chain disruptions couldn’t come at a worse time for retailers – or any other type of business which traditionally sees an uptick in demand for products and services over the Christmas-New Year period. 

With the dramatic reduction in air cargo capacity worldwide due to border closures for travellers, shipping companies have been overwhelmed with demand. COVID outbreaks at ports in China and backlogs in major hubs like Los Angeles and Rotterdam have worsened the problem. That has sparked price rises for international shipping. 

Small orders are worst affected because when airfreight companies put extra capacity on, they are prioritising large orders – so the smaller the package, the higher the cost as prices frequently adjust to balance insufficient demand. 

That means that retailers and other businesses who source products locally are in a better position to avoid stock shortages and price increases – because stocks are already in warehouses within Australia. It’s the perfect time to seek out local suppliers and potentially onshore their sourcing. 

If you are considering ordering products from abroad – and you have not as yet – beware they will be unlikely to arrive in time now. 

On-time delivery chance now “zero”

Super Retail Group chief executive Anthony Heraghty told Fairfax that even if retailers are buying stock eight to 12 months out from overseas suppliers, “the chances of it arriving on time is zero”.

“If it’s not in the shed or on the shelf today, for Christmas this year I think the chances of it being (in stock) come that peak time is incredibly remote.”

Jamie Dixon, TMX’s director of supply chain, told Inside Retail this week that home and leisure goods, furniture and electronics coming out of Asia are already being delayed by up to six weeks and with order volumes increasing that is likely to get worse.

“With demand in Europe and North America rebounding very strongly, there is a significant risk that Australian retailers won’t be able to get their hands on global-branded products, or at least as much as they like.” 

He told Inside Retail that retailers should aim to get their hands on stock as soon as possible. “A retailer’s availability of stock will ultimately become a competitive advantage come Christmas time.”

The same scenario is playing out worldwide. In South Dakota, where life is substantially back to some form of post-COVID ‘normal’, kitchen supply store owner Kirsten Gjesdal “had long taken for granted her ability to order whatever she needed and then watch the goods arrive,” reported the New York Times – “without any thought about the factories, container ships and trucks involved in delivery”.

 

“It’s not getting back to normal”

She has given up on stocking placemats, tired of telling customers that she can only guess when more will come. A pot lid she ordered eight months ago turned up only days ago and she reports becoming used to paying surcharges on top of already soaring shipping costs for orders.

As a result, Gjesdal has already placed orders for traditional Christmas stock like wreaths. 

“It’s nuts,” she said. “It’s definitely not getting back to normal.”

So, never before has it been more important to stock up early for Christmas stock or business needs. 

The best chance of sourcing stock now is to order from within Australia. 

Fortunately, TradeSquare has more than 800 suppliers on our platform able to supply products to any Australian-registered business at wholesale prices. 

Posted by TradeSquare on Sep 7, 2021 4:55:21 PM

QLD Emergency Support Package

QLD Emergency Support Package

Dear Members,

BREAKING: QLD will deliver an emergency support package for businesses in the border zone hurting due to NSW restrictions.

The $54.55 million jointly funded package will also include support for tourism operators across Queensland badly impacted by ongoing interstate lockdowns.

Yours sincerely,

Brendan Tohill | Chief Executive Officer
NLNA – National Lotteries Newsagents Association

Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme 2021

Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme 2021

Dear VIPs,

You’ll be aware that the Victorian Government has reintroduced the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme (the Scheme). The Scheme applies retrospectively from 28 July 2021 and will run until 15 January 2022. 

Under the Scheme, the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) will support tenants and landlords by providing information to assist with negotiating a rent relief agreement and access to free and impartial mediation if a fair agreement can’t be reached. The VSBC is also offering help with negotiations and free mediation in situations where the tenant isn’t eligible for the Scheme.  VSBC encourages applications for assistance from both tenants and landlords.

VSBC has updated its website with detailed information including the regulationsFAQs for the Scheme, and step-by-step process for tenants and landlords.

Examples of material available include:

  • guidance for tenants who can’t keep paying rent – see question 12 of our FAQs 
  • letter templates that eligible tenants can use to request rent relief – question 13 of our FAQs has links to these helpful resources (tenants just need to fill in the parts highlighted in yellow) 
  • information to help with negotiating a rent relief agreement – question 22 of our FAQs explains what ‘good faith negotiations’ mean 
  • access to free and impartial mediation if a fair agreement can’t be reached. 

VSBC is also available to answer questions regarding the scheme on 13 8722. 

Information regarding further government support is available at Business Victoria website.

If you would like more information or if you would like to express your interest in attending an upcoming VSBC virtual session on tenant and landlord supports, please contact Linda Bailey at linda.bailey@vsbc.vic.gov.au

Yours sincerely,

Brendan Tohill | Chief Executive Officer
VANA – Victorian Authorised Newsagents Association
NLNA – National Lotteries Newsagents Association