The major ‘double standard’ in Dan Andrews’ reopening maps which has left Victorians fuming

Retailers say they are being left behind in Victoria’s lockdown reopening because of a ‘double standard’ by the government. 

Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Sunday Victoria would emerge from stay-at-home order at 11:59pm on Thursday after the state reached the 70 per cent fully-vaccinated milestone. 

While Melburnians can head to cafes and pubs for a beer and a bite and up to 10 people can visit a home, people are still barred from non-essential shops. 

While shopping malls in other cities are gearing up for Christmas, those in Melbourne – already having endured the longest lockdown in the country – must wait weeks longer until the 80 per cent mark is reached.

The delay is bound to add extra chaos to the Christmas period, with families given just weeks to prepare. 

Victoria recorded another 1,903 Covid cases on Monday, as well as seven more deaths. 

‘I’m delighted that we’re opening up on Thursday but I’m not sure retail is different from hospitality from a virus transmission perspective,’ Accent Group CFO Matthew Durban told news.com.au. 

‘Very frustrating that there hasn’t been a clear articulation about why. It’s just a bit random [and] it puts Christmas demand into a shorter period,’ he said. 

Accent Group owns store brands such as Hype, Platypus, and the Athlete’s Foot. 

‘We’ve had zero cases of Covid transmission at our 200 stores in NSW. We had tens of thousand of people through NSW last week,’ he said. 

But retailers have complained non-essential shops are still not allowed to only – missing out on weeks of peak pre-Christmas shopping (pictured Melbourne in July before the latest lockdown) 

The group runs 150 stores in Victoria and employs about 1,500 staff which are all prevented from returning to work.  

Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association, agreed saying he was ‘disappointed’ people would not be able to visit a store in shopping mall from Friday when they are allowed to get a haircut or sit down in a restaurant. 

He added October was a crucial month for retailers leading into the peak Christmas shopping season.

He said while business can operate outdoors under the rules, many of the premises were inside shopping malls and moving large quantities of stock and checkout system outdoors was not feasible. 

Paul Guerra from the Victorian Chamber Chief Executive put the figure at about half of members who could viably trade outdoors with the other half forced to stay closed. 

Accent Group said its 1,500 store staff would have to wait weeks longer to get shifts (pictured: a Melbourne store closes in 2020) 

Hairdressing salons can reopen for up to five fully vaccinated people at a time from Friday (pictured, a salon in Melbourne after a previous lockdown ended)

Businesses and councils can apply for a share in a $54.5million fund to move towards outdoor trading as Victoria emerges from its sixth COVID-19 lockdown.

The state government on Monday announced the cash so venues can create outdoor dining and bars.

Part of the money will be put aside for a COVIDSafe outdoor activation voucher program of $2000 grants for more than 7000 businesses, valid for expenses including buying and hiring marquees, screens and umbrellas, obtaining insurance and promoting outdoor operations.

Hairdressers, beauty services, retail shops, dance studios and gyms will also be eligible to apply for vouchers.

The remaining $40million will help local governments create outdoor areas such as upgrading street furniture and creating precincts.

Mr Andrews announced on Sunday the state will end its sixth lockdown five days earlier than planned.

Accent Group CFO Matthew Durban said he couldn’t see why a double standard was needed between retail shops and pubs and cafes (pictured: an Accent owned Platypus store)

The race to get vaccinated has cemented the state’s early reopening from 11.59pm on Thursday, which will see the end of lockdown, restrictions on leaving home gone as well as the scrapping of the controversial 9pm curfew.

‘I can’t tell you how proud I am of our state. The resilience, the courage, the compassion and the conviction that Victorians have shown to get this job done is quite amazing,’ Mr Andrews told reporters on Sunday.

‘Not only am I proud but I am deeply grateful. But there is still a little way to go.’

Large-scale construction sites can also increase to 100 per cent capacity but only if all workers are fully vaccinated.

Those living in metropolitan Melbourne will still be banned from visiting regional Victoria.

Under the state’s roadmap, the city’s current lockdown – which has run for 73 days – was due to end on October 26, the predicted date by when 70 per cent of those aged 16 and over would be doubled-dosed.

Melburnians can once again go to the pub or get a haircut from Friday (pictured: the city in 2020)