Automotive businesses across Victoria remain open currently, performing services that are keeping motorists and business operators moving.
The Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC), which represents many of the state’s automotive businesses, says its members support essential services and are therefore essential themselves.
“Emergency services such as ambulance, police and fire crews absolutely require vehicles in which to perform their duties,” said Geoff Gwilym, CEO of the VACC. “Along with this are trucks hauling groceries and medical supplies to supermarkets, pharmacies and hospitals. This needs to keep occurring, and the automotive businesses that sell, maintain and service these vehicles need to remain open.
“If the automotive industry were to shut down, so too would many of the critical services that people rely on for health and safety, and the basics of life like food and medicine.”
The VACC says that it, along with many other organisations, also recognise that federal and state governments need to make tough decisions and are supporting their calls.
“VACC supports the recent decisions of government, but [Victorian] Premier [Daniel] Andrews has not yet stipulated what an essential service actually is,” said Gwilym. “Rather, he has outlined businesses and organisations that are currently classified non-essential. Automotive businesses such as workshops, body repair businesses and dealerships are performing essential services that organisations and the public rely upon. VACC asks that Premier Andrews acknowledge automotive as an essential service.”