Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox says the extension of Victoria’s emergency powers has bleak ramifications for business as it indicates the state’s reopening timeline will be pushed further back.
Mr Willox said extending the state’s emergency powers “sends a terrible signal" to businesses and the community more broadly.
"The state will remain closed for business; it’s not going to be open for investment. Who would invest in a state of emergency?” he said.
“Victoria is in a very dark, bleak place."
Victoria Jobs Minister Martin Pakula held talks with industry groups about launching a program assisting businesses with re-opening.
“What we’re missing here is the big picture; what is the government going to do to get the economy moving again," Mr Willox said.
"Where's the spark going to come from? Are they thinking about things like payroll tax holidays. What incentives are they looking at for business. How are they going to get young people back into the workplace?
"All of these things government can give direction to but until they give direction business is sort of stuck."
Treasury estimated this week 60 per cent of the 2.2 million people projected to be on the government’s JobKeeper scheme by the end of 2020 would be Victorian residents.
"That just tells you all that you need to hear all in that one statistic," Mr Willox said.
Image: AP
