BY JARROD MELMETH
The Hunters peak business group is calling on the NSW Government to provide certainty to Hunter residents around whether restrictions will extend past Thursday.
On Wednesday the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told journalists it's not likely the Hunter will come out of lockdown on Thursday.
Business Hunter says by not providing the region with clarity on the lockdown, businesses are less able to focus their concerns on things they can control and will now have growing anxiety over issues that they can't control.
CEO Bob Hawes says business are hurting and they need certainty.
"Business wants to be able submit orders, renew staff rosters, pivot the business to the restrictions; and making decisions that will keep their business afloat.
"They can’t do this under the cloud of ‘what will the advice tell us’; when will things return to normal and at what increment; what the vaccination uptake is and how to protect their businesses from a lack of compliance by individuals still breaching orders.
“People breaking the rules need to be acutely aware that their actions pose unnecessary risk to businesses and communities and the consequences should be absolutely clear.
“I don’t see any issue with places of business reporting breaches in movement in our regions because some people are putting our community at risk," Mr Hawes said.
The Hunter recorded 14 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday with three cases under investigation by health authorities
The Hunters accommodation and tourism services, entertainment and arts sectors have been decimated by the restrictions. On Wednesday, it was announced the New Annual Festival in Newcastle is being postponed to 2022 due to the ongoing uncertainty around COVID restrictions. The event was set to include 500 artists, 250 event crew and 30 ticketed events. It's another blow to an industry already suffering.
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| Image: Forbes |
