Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) president Leah Calnan has spoken out against the lack of consultation between the government and the industry.
“There’s been a real lack of communication with our industry — it’s extremely frustrating,” Ms Calnan said.
“We need to know what’s going on so agents can start planning, so they can prepare contracts, engage solicitors, organise marketing and photography, plan for inspections. We really just want the government to consult with the industry.”
This followed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ refusal to commit to a roll out plan for the removal of COVID-19 restrictions on Wednesday, stating it was too early, and would be too soon even early next week.
“It will be too early, early next week for us, with any certainty, to be talking about what things will look like after the 13th (of September).
“I wish I could provide you with a series of absolutely definitive dates and trigger points. That‘s not the nature of this thing; that’s one of the most frustrating elements of this fight.”
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Andrews was more open, but still wouldn’t commit to a road map, saying it would come ‘quite soon’.
“I think every Victorian can be positive about the fact that these numbers are coming down and the strategies are working and there will come a time hopefully soon we’re able to see those numbers in double digits,” he said.
“We quite soon hope to be able to give people a road map, a clear plan about what coming out of stage four looks like, what opening up looks like, what finding COVID-normal looks like.
“And we can have, with greater confidence, a really clear discussion about what the back end of September looks like, what October, November, December, looks like pushing into 2021.”
