The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has expressed its concern over the sudden five-day lockdown in Western Australia, which came into effect yesterday evening.
The lockdowns across the Perth metropolitan area, Peel and South West regions were imposed as the state works to slow the potential spread, following the detection of a positive COVID-19 case in a hotel quarantine worker.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra argued the lockdown, as well as a mandatory requirement of QR codes on all WA retail business, was imposed without consultation.
"The decisions over the past week are strongly out of step with successful practice in the rest of the country.
"We have been living with COVID for nearly a year now with ample time to get reasonable business communication in place.
"With a hot spot approach showing powerful results around the country, it makes little sense to continue shutting down local economies whenever new cases emerge, let alone just one case.
"While we understand the need to keep the community safe, we cannot be treating businesses like a light switch and turn things off when a case pops up.
"It’s not responsible or safe for business to find out what’s imposed via the media with no opportunity for preparation or input - particularly when there is a panic reaction from the public," he said.
The lockdown also comes with a mandatory mask rule when outside the home, which residents can only leave for one of four reasons; work because they can’t work from home or remotely; shopping for essentials; medical or health care needs including compassionate requirements; and exercise within their neighbourhood, but only with one other person and only for one hour per day.
Ragtrader understands that retailers are able to remain open, but have to have appropriate safety measures in place.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA CEO Chris Rodwell supported the measures.
"This is a necessary and proportionate response to confirmation that a hotel quarantine worker spent time in the community with COVID-19, potentially with one of the highly transmissible UK variants of the virus.
"The first priority of Government and other decision-makers must be on keeping the community safe.
"As the situation evolves over coming days, it is important that the community fully supports West Australian businesses.
"Ultimately, the best way that the WA community can help local businesses is to remain calm and to follow the directions of the State Government," he said.
Zahra added that a national guide for what is considered a 'trigger point' for a lockdown would help to instil confidence in businesses.
"The uncertainty and confusion around ‘trigger points’ has been a confidence killer and one of the key lessons out of this pandemic is to have a nationally consistent approach, with clear criteria, so business can at least operate with some sort of certainty.
"We have to learn to live with COVID and manage things in a responsible way without devastating business and livelihoods," he said.
The lockdown is set to end on 6pm Friday, 5 February 2021.