A Storm Brewing for the Hospitality Industry
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has called for a revision of the rules around indoor dining for the hospitality sector.
In regional Victoria, pubs, restaurants and cafes are allowed to have up to 20 patrons inside across two areas, with a maximum of 10 people per zone, subject to a four-square metre rule. The remainder of diners must sit outside, capped at 50 people.
Mrs McArthur said, “This, for many businesses, is just not viable. There are no COVID cases in most of rural and regional Victoria and the hospitality sector, which is a vital small business employer, is well placed to provide jobs and customer opportunity.”
“Given the lack of cases, rural premises must be allowed to immediately open up without the restrictions on indoor dining, provided that they have COVIDSafe protocols in place.”
In metropolitan Melbourne, there’s no indication yet as to whether venues will be allowed to serve any diners inside, with expectations of primarily outdoor dining.
Mrs McArthur said, “These rules demonstrate how out-of-touch the Premier is with the hospitality sector.”
“Until we see Mr Andrews eating three meals a day in the rain, wind and freezing cold, I don’t see why he should expect Victorians, who might seek an eating out experience but at an inside venue, to be so limited in their dining options."
“Forget coronavirus – if you eat breakfast outdoors in sub-zero Melbourne you’re a chance to end up with pneumonia.”
“In Melbourne’s notoriously unpredictable weather, a few taxpayer-funded umbrellas aren’t going to do much to attract desperately needed customers when the rain is flying sideways onto outdoor tables.”
“For many businesses in the industry, outdoor dining is simply not financially or physically feasible.”
“The hospitality industry has proven their premises can be safe from COVID-19 through effective cleaning, hand sanitising, social distancing protocols and by competently recording patrons to facilitate efficient contact tracing. If pubs, restaurants or cafes, can demonstrate that they have the proper and necessary measures in place to open safely, then they should be allowed to do so.”
“The State Government should end these blanket prohibitions which inhibit the return to normality and prosperity for the lives and livelihoods of so many.”
“The Premier must change the metropolitan Melbourne roadmap to allow indoor dining on the 26th of October, or preferably much sooner, for businesses which have effective COVIDSafe plans and protocols.”
24 September 2020