THE BIGGER PICTURE

Nomic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the required physical distancing measures will force many firms to introduce telework on a large scale.

Transport by rail has fallen to 6.1%, which means the number of massive trucks going to and from the Port of Melbourne has significantly increased.

Once an icon of suburban Australia, many neighbourhood corner stores vanished in the face of unrelenting competition from large supermarkets.

Local shops play an important role in older people’s daily lives and, for many, are an integral part of their social network.