Business baulks at Spurrier’s post-COVID QR check-in call

Nicola Spurrier’s wish to keep QR code systems in case of new outbreaks would be an unwelcome intrusion, according to SA business leaders.

Hotel Metropolitan publican Matt Farmer. Picture: Russell Millard

Business leaders have baulked at maintaining QR check-in codes permanently, saying it would be an “intrusion” and an “imposition” for patrons and customers.

Business SA chief executive Martin Haese said business had been supportive of the government’s QR code check-in system, but that keeping it as a permanent part of the South Australian landscape would be “an entirely different discussion”.

“Business SA has supported QR codes as a means of managing the current COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Haese said.

“However, any suggestion that QR codes should become a permanent fixture for business post-COVID-19 is a bridge too far as far as government intrusion is concerned.”

The use of QR codes has been widely praised for cutting virus contact-tracing time from days or weeks to a matter of hours.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier. Picture: Sue McKay/Getty Images)

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier yesterday said she would be in favour of retaining the code scanning system permanently, as a safety net against future infectious public health challenges.

However, her views are not shared by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

“I’d like alco testers installed in all cars so you can’t drive a car if you’re drunk but that’s not going to happen so I think we have to be pragmatic about this,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide on Monday morning.

“The QR codes were introduced for COVID-19, my commitment as a part of the decision- making team has been this is for only COVID-19, and once no longer required people will not be required to check in.”

Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive Ian Horne said QR codes were serving their purpose.

But he said it would be “almost impossible for Australians, whether consumers or businesses, to embrace the concept of keeping them permanently”.

“It would be another level of red tape and obligation on businesses,” Mr Horne said.

Hotel Metropolitan publican Matt Farmer said businesses and customers had been happy to use the codes to mitigate health risks, but retaining them post-pandemic would annoy people.

“It would be an unnecessary imposition to have them retained on an ongoing basis,” Mr Farmer said.

“It has been a wonderful measure, given the circumstances we are in, and it is not hard to check-in, but I don’t think we would support keeping it indefinitely.

“I think this imposition should be removed when the pandemic is over, and while that could be quite some time yet, we are quite happy to continue with it while the risk is there.”

Mr Farmer noted such a system could be swiftly reintroduced, if needed.

He added that once the health risk was gone, he hoped venue-capacity restrictions would be lifted.

The QR check-in system has been in place since December 14 at all “general retail industry premises”.

Customers and patrons are expected to use their smartphones to scan the codes, or sign in manually.

A recent seven-day police blitz found more than 100 businesses across the state were not complying with COVID-19 check-in requirements, including QR code rules.