Chamber welcomes cabinet recommendations

The cabinet held an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the rising Omicron cases and to devise a strategy to ensure the safety of the public as well as support of Australia’s fragile economic recovery.

Its recommendations included measures to increase the daily rate of boosters, recommendations on public health controls, and steps towards a uniform definition of virus contacts.

“The decisions taken by the national cabinet today offer clarity and certainty for businesses,” ACCI director of economics, employment and skills Jenny Lambert said.

“The commitment towards a consistent definition of close and casual contacts will be a relief for businesses and individuals who have been confused about what is expected of them. The development of uniform approaches to QR check-ins and testing are also a welcome sign. Differences in each states’ approaches has created confusion and uncertainty for businesses and consumers.”

One of the other recommendations to come from the cabinet was the replacement of PCR testing requirements with rapid antigen testing for travel, a move which the ACCI said would be welcomed but only if those tests are free and widely accessible.

“If rapid antigen testing is to replace conventional PCR testing requirements for travel, which is sensible given the demand on PCR testing, they must be free and widely accessible. This has been achieved in the United Kingdom and United States and will be vital if we are to learn to live with the virus,” Ms Lambert said.

“We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to lockdowns being avoided. This is tremendously assuring for the business community and the Australians they employ.

“As businesses are only just beginning the long process of recovery from the recent wave of lockdowns, they cannot afford to return to these crushing restrictions. Lockdowns destroy jobs, investment and confidence – they must be avoided unless absolutely necessary, and these assurances are a great boost to much needed confidence.

“In responding to the pandemic, the focus has rightly shifted to how the health system is managing those most severely impacted by the virus rather than fixating on the daily case numbers.

“It’s critical that measures to manage the virus remain targeted and proportionate, ensuring that the economy stays open.”