Attributable to Business Council Chief Executive Bran Black:
Yesterday, employers from across the Victorian economy stood together and asked the Premier to listen to business, halt this Bill and work with us to get Victoria back on track.
Today’s announcement shows the Victorian Premier is taking the first steps towards listening to the concerns of the business community.
However, whilst we welcome the deferral of the start date, we remain opposed to the overall Bill, and it should not proceed. This Bill will simply compound Victoria’s economic decline.
Already, Victoria has the highest unemployment rate in the country and the Victorian economy cannot afford another policy that drives investment and jobs away, which only hurts Victorians through lower living standards.
Flexible work is already common across Victorian workplaces with four in every five businesses offering flexible working arrangements.
The Premier has also made a commitment to grow the economy and cut red tape, which we strongly support, however this legislation takes Victoria in the opposite direction.
Delaying the Bill is a welcome first step, but our position remains clear: the legislation is unnecessary and should be scrapped.
We look forward to having the opportunity to sit down with the Premier and discuss these issues directly and constructively.