National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) Victorian executive director Pawel Podolski has cautiously endorsed tighter lockdown restrictions announced by the Victorian government but said it was imperative for “jobs, livelihoods and the economy” that these be eased as soon as practicable.

Following the announcement that lockdown conditions would tighten on 17 August 2021 – including a nighttime curfew, the closure of parks and playgrounds and reducing the number of construction sites – NECA Vic says that these lockdowns should be kept as “short as sharp as possible”.

“We understand that in view of the current Delta strain outbreak of COVID-19, and the difficulty in bringing it under control, that further measures are required,” Pawel says.

“Even so, I would note that Melbourne has spent some 200 days in lockdown over the past 18 months, and it’s imperative that these interruptions be kept to the bare minimum necessary.”

Pawel adds that limiting staff numbers to 25%, or five people, on larger building sites, and cutting staff for all but critical infrastructure and emergency repairs, would strain businesses and the livelihoods of their staff.

“It’s important to note that Melbourne has already been through five previous lockdowns and that businesses and employees have already faced hardship due to COVID-19,” he says.

“This time there is no JobKeeper, and many of the relief measures from 2020 have expired, so it’s paramount this be kept as short as possible.”

He was disappointed to believe that the government acted with no apparent regard for the community or business, saying that the cumulative effects of repeated lockdowns could not be ignored.

Businesses in the electrical contracting sector had observed all regulations and requirements imposed on them since the beginning of the pandemic. NECA Vic adds that the latest restrictions were a slap in the face for an industry that had taken great trouble to do the right thing: “NECA would prefer that this did not happen, and while we understand the reasoning, we also have the welfare of our members, their employees and their businesses to consider, which is why I implore the Premier not to let this latest lockdown go on a moment longer than required.”