SA Business Journal

Business Owners Need To Have Their Say

What is 41 years old, a reliable and trusted voice, and the backbone of advocacy for the South Australian business community? It’s the Survey of Business Expectations, or SOBE as many have come to know it. As the independent Chamber of Commerce and Industry and peak employer body in South Australia, the South Australian Business Chamber releases SOBE every quarter in a trusted partnership with William Buck.

We rely on the results of the quarterly SOBE survey to understand what our members need and, more broadly, what is needed across the state to ensure sustainable business growth and prosperity.

Over the course of the global pandemic, the voice of the South Australian business community has been vitally important. Recent survey results have informed the continuation of state government COVID-19 economic support for heavily impacted businesses, particularly those suffering from interstate border closures. It has also influenced the easing of restrictions such as dancing at public venues, new vaccination opportunities for business and a recent state government procurement framework to support local businesses.

As South Australia heads towards the 80% vaccination target to open its borders, it raises many questions around mandatory vaccinations. Should we have them in some or all industries, across the general population, or even at all? Premier Steven Marshall has recently indicated he doesn’t support mandated vaccinations for all industries. Instead, the Premier sees this as being led by businesses themselves. But what does this all mean for the hard-working business owner?

The matter is not that simple. Industrial relations laws are a minefield, not to mention the potential of workers compensation issues down the track if you get it wrong. Perhaps businesses might feel more comfortable with the government mandating certain sectors as has happened interstate. The bottom line is that there are many unknowns and the different rules in each state and territory makes businesses trading across borders even more complicated.

Some prominent South Australian brands have already come out and said they expect for their staff and customers to be double vaccinated to enter their premises. Certain health care workers are also mandated to be double vaccinated to protect their patients.

In the latest the South Australian Business Chamber William Buck SOBE survey, we are now asking our members and the wider business community for their views about mandated vaccinations for their staff and customers. The results of this quarterly survey will be crucial in answering these questions. The information we receive from our members and the wider business community helps the South Australian Business Chamber understand the realities for the business community which, in turn, helps us advocate effectively for the best outcomes as we head towards the reopening of the state and international borders.

So please, the South Australian Business Chamber members and the broader business community, help us to advocate on your behalf when it comes to this crucial time in the reopening of South Australia.

You will find the South Australian Business Chamber William Buck SOBE survey on our web homepage. The survey is now open, won’t take you long to complete, and it is anonymous. In doing so, you will be helping us to understand the needs of the South Australian business community on not only this critically important issue, but others including your level of confidence about the local economy: www​.busi​ness​-sa​.com/​b​u​s​i​n​e​ssnow

Originally published in The Advertiser’s South Australian Business Journal on 12 October, 2021

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