It will include a new and extended $100m voucher scheme, which will provide rebates to Victorians for entertainment, dining and travel under a $10m round of Melbourne Money.The scheme will be extended across the state, with a new $30m program providing rebates on food and wine experiences in regional areas and suburbs. A new entertainment voucher scheme will also provide $30m in rebates for tickets to the theatre, live music, cinemas, museums, exhibitions and galleries. Meanwhile, a further $30m will be put towards a new round of the Victorian Travel Voucher Scheme to encourage more people to holiday across the state. Businesses are also set to receive targeted support with a $60m Ventilation Voucher Program to help small businesses purchase equipment and upgrades to reduce Covid transmission in the workplace. A further $34.2m of Jobs Victoria funding will be distributed to place workers in more than 1500 jobs across hospitality, warehousing and logistics, tourism and food processing. Another $5m will be used to extend the Small Business Digital Adaptation Program, providing rebates of up to $1200 so businesses can access a range of digital tools. Industry Support and Recovery Minister Martin Pakula said business and consumer confidence is critical for continued economic recovery. “That’s why we’re investing in these programs to deliver a boost where it is needed most,” Mr Pakula said. “We’re encouraging Victorians to experience the best the state has to offer by going to see a show, having lunch with friends or visiting somewhere new.”Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson said the targeted support would help businesses in the creative sector. “Our arts and cultural scene was hit hard by the global pandemic and that’s why we’re supporting these businesses to bounce back in 2022,” he said. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra welcomed the announcement. “We expect that Victorians will take up these vouchers with haste so we can make March all about supporting business and making the most of the beautiful weather and everything our state has to offer,” Mr Guerra said. “We know that Victorian businesses are ready to roar back and this package will help them to seize the opportunity to do that as they welcome more customers and visitors back.“Now, we need the state government to reverse the strong recommendation to work from home.” VICTORIA’S $200M STIMULUS PACKAGE But leading industry groups are worried it won’t be enough, criticising the government’s move to hold off on announcing an end to mask mandates and work-from-home orders.Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday morning revealed QR codes would be ditched in some settings, density limits scrapped and dance floors reopened. But indoor mask rules remain in place and office workers are still “strongly encouraged” to work from home, and another announcement is expected on Friday.NSW has already committed to removing mask mandates in most indoor settings by the end of this week.Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said on Sunday he hoped relaxed mask rules in offices would also be announced on Monday.Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the government would continue to take a “measured approach”. “I think it will be looked at and discussed – does it go from compulsory to recommended?” he said. “Mask wearing on public transport will certainly remain for the foreseeable future.”Opposition Industrial Relations spokesman Nick Wakeling said it should be the priority to get workers, particularly the public service sector, back into the city.“The CBD is dying, it’s crying out for help,” he said.The Victorian head of employer association AI Group, Tim Piper, said decision-making should be driven not just by health advice, but also by economic advice.“I’m certainly hoping they will make the announcement before the Friday – it will let workers get ready to return to work,” he said.Industry groups are also concerned that a delayed easing of restrictions will have a flow-on effect for the tourism sector and small businesses. Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said it was “absolutely mission critical” to cease all working from home orders as soon as possible. “It’s really important that we get masks off in the office as well,” Ms Mariani said. “Our city is languishing and we need to get our office workers back in. Without them our recovery will continue to be stunted.”Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said the government was “continuing to punish” small businesses through inaction. “Our city traders, who rely on foot traffic in the CBD to survive, need work-from-home orders lifted and the mandated return of public servants to the office immediately,” he said.
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