"Morrison is a Liberal. There is nothing to suggest unions are a prominent part of his political DNA". In my mind it conveys a sense of negativity to badly needed economic reform at a forthcoming summit.

PM Morrison should be applauded by decisively breaking from Liberal Party tradition and launching a consensus approach to win industrial relations reform in the face of 10% plus unemployment.

A pragmatic PM in pursuit of a single goal, job restoration in the private economy. His call for business leaders and unions to "put their weapons down" and seek new ways to create jobs in the COVID-19 recovery seems sensible to me.

The PM understands employment creation in many areas is being dominated by networks of smaller enterprises and independent contractors which requires a new approach to award setting and training.

Many still think the summit is all about big business and big unions doing a deal. But those days have long gone. COVID-19 means things have changed forever; there is no going back to business as usual.

The Morrison summit is to create stronger businesses whilst distributing the rewards on a fairer basis. All sides will need to give up some precious turf. COVID-19 shows we can work together.

I am optimistic, with goodwill on display, we can gain better productivity and all Australians will benefit. Let's aim high.

Of course the council should waive rate fees for businesses that have had to close because of COVID-19.

It should not be questionable and would be the decent moral thing to do!

Bendigo has a large amount of struggling businesses and whilst the variety and types of shopping local has improved since I moved here, and the choices of being able to buy products has improved slightly, Bendigo falls very short of being a wonderland for variety of shopping.

So many businesses are struggling - if you don't at least do the correct passionate thing by at least waiving their rate fees, we will see more small businesses shut, and go under.

The council should be offering more incentives to keep these businesses open, not watch them all close.

You will all get your paychecks, and you won't go without by waiving rates for the period businesses were forced to close.