Master Builders Victoria has expressed extreme disappointment at the increased restrictions imposed on the State’s building and construction industry for the next two weeks, despite the sector recording just six positive COVID-19 cases this year. In response to the current trajectory of COVID-19 positive numbers and unlinked cases of community transmission, the Victorian Government has extended the current lockdown restrictions for a further two weeks to midnight 2 September 2021.MBV CEO Rebecca Casson said tougher restrictions for the building and construction industry in metropolitan Melbourne would have a devastating impact on a sector already reeling from repeated snap lockdowns this year. One member has already calculated that these latest restrictions would cost them around $2.4m in repeated fixed costs, Ms Casson said, forcing them to make labour stand downs.Ms Casson said that, in a bitterly disheartening move, it appeared that the Victorian building and construction industry was being unfairly punished following some disappointing public behaviour at the weekend, including a pub crawl at Richmond and an engagement party in Caulfiedl North attended by 69 people.She said it was important to note that since the start of the pandemic, the sector had continued to follow the bespoke COVID-19 Guidelines for the Building and Construction Industry Victoria – which is now up to revision 13 - and implemented many measures ahead of other sectors.
Master Builders Victoria has expressed extreme disappointment at the increased restrictions imposed on the State’s building and construction industry for the next two weeks, despite the sector recording just six positive COVID-19 cases this year. In response to the current trajectory of COVID-19 positive numbers and unlinked cases of community transmission, the Victorian Government has extended the current lockdown restrictions for a further two weeks to midnight 2 September 2021.MBV CEO Rebecca Casson said tougher restrictions for the building and construction industry in metropolitan Melbourne would have a devastating impact on a sector already reeling from repeated snap lockdowns this year. One member has already calculated that these latest restrictions would cost them around $2.4m in repeated fixed costs, Ms Casson said, forcing them to make labour stand downs.Ms Casson said that, in a bitterly disheartening move, it appeared that the Victorian building and construction industry was being unfairly punished following some disappointing public behaviour at the weekend, including a pub crawl at Richmond and an engagement party in Caulfiedl North attended by 69 people.She said it was important to note that since the start of the pandemic, the sector had continued to follow the bespoke COVID-19 Guidelines for the Building and Construction Industry Victoria – which is now up to revision 13 - and implemented many measures ahead of other sectors.
