Friday, 21 January 2022
After voicing strong concerns about the future of city businesses, the South Australian Business Chamber is appreciative that the Premier of South Australia, the Hon Steven Marshall, has taken action to support city businesses by recommending that workers return to their offices from 27 January 2022.
The South Australian Business Chamber Chief Executive Martin Haese says that as workers start to return to their workplaces, they should pick up that cup of coffee and grab their lunch and enjoy the outdoor dining options that so many of our city traders provide.
“On behalf of the South Australian Business Chamber members and the broader business community, we acknowledge the Premier for listening to our concerns and taking action. The recent impact on city traders extends to many small businesses in the metropolitan areas too where those incidental coffees or lunches are no longer taking place with people working from home.
“The CBD has been like a ghost town, with public servants and many corporates instructing their staff to work from home. As we reach the peak of cases, now is the time for this plan to be released.”
Mr Haese however strongly encourages the Premier to ensure that as many public servants as possible return to their offices in the CBD without delay, as the corporate sector will then follow suit. While 25% is a step forward, it is not enough.
The South Australian Business Chamber member and General Manager of Crowne Plaza Adelaide Shaun Parsons agrees that this is exactly what city traders need.
“This is exactly the message that South Australians need to hear to bring back confidence to come into the city. This is one step in the right direction as we come out of the pandemic.
“In our part of town, you can feel that businesses are not operating at capacity, if at all. The usual buzz around lunch time is not there. We are not seeing people entertain in venues like ours. The streets feel empty.
“As more of these good news messages start to come out, people will get more confidence to move around freely and enjoy the many venues and experiences that Adelaide has to offer.”
