The Australian Retailer's Association has welcomed the news that metro Melbourne retail will be able to reopen on November 02.
Following announcements from Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday, the Association said that the set date for reopening brings clarity to the retail sector.
"The announcement by the Victorian Premier of a likely November 02 reopening date for retail stores with an immediate reopening for hairdressers brings enormous relief and comes off the back of many months of intense advocacy by the ARA.
"Under this next step, all remaining retail will open from November 02.
"Restaurants, cafes and pubs will open. And personal and beauty services will be able to offer treatments to clients – as long as a face mask can be worn," the organisation said.
The ARA added that it is pleased to see that the government heeded its advice.
"The ability for staff to return to physical stores on 28 October to prepare the stores for Christmas is a clear sign the government has listened to our advice.
"The ARA has been calling for store staff to have the ability to return earlier to begin the arduous task of store preparations in time for the busiest and most important trading period of the year.
"Whilst this date is many weeks later than we would have hoped, coming just two days before the official start of Christmas, it is still very welcome news for retailers who have been desperately seeking clarity for months.
"We know that every day counts in managing customer expectations and spreading demand and we are very hopeful the November 01 deadline may come forward if infection rates continue to decline," the ARA said.
The Victorian Government said that it will review the data each day this week to assess if the next steps can be taken any earlier than scheduled.