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Melbourne-based Ragtrader associate editor Imogen Bailey discusses her perspective on the latest lockdown. 

Here we are again Melbourne - another lockdown. 

And it's certainly getting hard to hide the frustration. 

While I have full faith that Victorians are resilient and can pull together to do the right thing and get through this, I can't help but wonder what is going awry?

Why is it always us?

I'm no expert so I won't attempt to answer that question – although I can guess that vaccinations and sorting out hotel quarantine would likely help – but what I can say with confidence is that the retail industry groups are calling this seven-day lockdown a devastating blow. 

National Retail Association CEO Dominique Lamb said that foot traffic to retailers gets worse with each lockdown. 

"The pandemic has wreaked havoc across the entire country over the last 12 months, but none more so than Victoria. 

"Foot traffic across major shopping precincts worsens with each lockdown, the Melbourne CBD has tracked consistently at 40% below pre-pandemic levels.

"JobKeeper is no longer in place to ensure Victorian retailers will not shed staff, but even a brief lockdown can devastate a business’s bottom-line.

"There will be no revenue coming in the door, fresh produce will become spoiled, and permanent staff will still need to be paid," she said. 

Meanwhile, Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra raised concern over the mental impact the lockdown will have on morale and consumer confidence. 

"Victorians have been to hell and back over the past year or so, and just when we thought the worst of Covid was behind us, it’s reared its head again mid-year.

"A seven-day lockdown is expected to cost retailers over a billion dollars in terms of lost trade.

"This isn’t just a financial cost – it’s a social one as well.

"This lockdown will have an enormous impact on people’s health and wellbeing and will shatter fragile confidence levels for the second half of the year.

"This will also set back the valiant efforts of state and local government to restore confidence and foot traffic within Melbourne’s hard-hit CBD. 

"We support the Victorian Government in their response to keep the community safe, but we can’t ignore the significant impact this lockdown will have on retailers, the Melbourne CBD and small businesses in particular," he said. 

And while Victorian retailers have (unfortunately) become well-versed in lockdown response, it doesn't mean the toll it takes is any easier to bare. 

However, support may be on the horizon, with the ABC reporting that Victoria's Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula has asked the federal government to co-fund a support package for businesses that are struggling financially from the circuit-breaker lockdown. 

Pakula said the government will work over the next day or two to develop the package. 

In the meantime, let's band together to do the right thing. 

I know we will get through this one, and all fingers and toes crossed that we won't have to do it again. 

Support numbers and resources available below: 

Mental health support: 
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue's NewAccess free mental health service for small business owners: 1300 22 4636

Business Support: 
National Retail Association: 1800 RETAIL (738 245)
Australian Retailer's Association: 1300 368 041 
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman: 1300 650 460

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