Confusion Reigns For Tradies in Stage 4

As Victoria enters Stage 4 COVID19 restrictions, confusion abounds with mixed messages and how businesses need to adapt to adhere to the rules. According to the DHHS website (link here):

• Open for on-site work: Construction of critical and essential infrastructure and services to support these projects.
• Open for on-site work: Critical repairs to residential premises where emergency and safety are at risk.
• Restricted: Large Scale Construction; maximum of 25% normal workforce, separate shifts, workers can only attend 1 site during stage 4.
• Restricted: Small Scale Construction; maximum 5 workers on-site, separate shifts, workers can only attend 1 site during stage 4.
• Restricted: State and Civil critical projects such as healthcare and schools.
• Closed for on-site work: Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing, Fabricated metal product manufacturing, wood manufacturing.
• Restricted: Manufacturing to support residential building industry, Manufacturing to support critical infrastructure works.
• Restricted: Hardware suppliers open on-site to trade customers only (not public)

This is where the confusion begins – if, even in small scale construction workers are limited to a single site during the stage 4 lockdown (6 weeks), how can they complete multiple small jobs across sites? For example, if an electrician or plumber completes a job on one site, does that mean that they cannot work for the remainder of the lockdown? If non-metallic manufacturing, metal fabrication and wood manufacturing are not allowed to operate, how then does the broader construction industry get the materials it needs, or does the second clause overrule the first?

It does appear however that some sector suppliers such as equipment rental have been given a reprieve and will continue operations throughout (although likely shutting physical branches to the public).

Read the full DHHS statement here.