Framework an important first step to business recovery

The Federal Government’s announcement of a three-step framework for economic recovery will help businesses with forward planning as they prepare for a return to normal working conditions, the Hunter Business Chamber said today.

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The framework will see the limits on social gatherings raised in stages from 10 people to 20 then to 100, with the timing to be determined by the states.

This will effectively allow businesses such as small cafes and restaurants to reopen initially, with larger venues to follow in the later stages, and a complete return to work across all sectors at stage three.

“While we acknowledge that the community is still at the mercy of the virus and the framework is conditional on COVID-19 cases remaining under control, having some certainty about the timeline for reopening the economy will help businesses significantly,” Chamber CEO Bob Hawes said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has indicated NSW will ease cautiously away from current restrictions, an approach Mr Hawes said made sense.

“As anxious as we all are to get business doors reopened and employees back to work, we have to hasten slowly to ensure that we do not end up back in a position where severe lockdown measures are again required,” Mr Hawes said.

“It would be crippling for businesses to have to shut down a second time and lose any momentum they have gained in re-establishing and reconnecting with customers.”

Mr Hawes said it was important for businesses and individuals to continue abiding by the regulations that have been put in place to ensure a return to normal working conditions can happen as quickly as possible.

“For this reason, we also encourage people to download and use the COVIDSafe app,” Mr Hawes said.