Business events might account for 79% of Victoria’s event industry in economic terms, but frustratingly today they again didn’t get a mention. 

The government trumpeted that 40,000 people are allowed at the football and 2,000 people are allowed at theatre productions.  But no mention of business events despite the critical role they play in Victoria.  Prior to Covid, 120,000 business events were happening in Victoria every year.

It would be very easy to think that business events are stuck at just 300 people – as this is what was implied in the media release – but this is not the case.  It is important for everyone to know that larger business events are allowed in Victoria.

While the standard limits for most of the venues used by business events is 300 people per space, event organisers can hold larger business events under the Public Event Framework.

A Tier 3 business event under the Public Event Framework for up to 1,000 people can happen under a simple checklist process.

A Tier 1 or 2 business event for more than 1,000 people can happen with a more formal application process.

Business events produced for not-for-profit organisations, companies and government – have a vital role to play in Victoria’s recovery:

• Helping bring communities back together again and help people reconnect and be supported.
• Helping organisations re-engage with their teams and work through the biggest changes they have faced in their histories.
• Helping whole industries adapt to this new environment and to innovate so they can benefit from it.
• Bringing people from interstate to Victoria again.
• Rebuilding confidence in our state and rebuilding its profile.

It is important that people know that business events are allowed in Victoria, and that they are a really important part of Victoria’s path to recovery.