McDonald’s removes signs banning unvaccinated customers from dining in at NT restaurants

McDonald’s Australia has torn down signs displayed at the entrance of its Northern Territory restaurants banning people who are not double vaccinated from dining in.

UPDATE: McDONALD’S Australia has torn down signs displayed at the entrance of several of its Northern Territory restaurants banning people who are not double vaccinated from dining in.

A spokesman for the fast food giant said the signs were posted in error, following the NT government’s introduction of a vaccine pass system on January 10.

Signs were still in place when the NT News contacted the home of the Big Mac on Tuesday morning, but had all been removed by Tuesday afternoon, according to the spokesman.

McDonald's has removed signs from its NT restaurants barring unvaccinated people dining in. Picture: Supplied.

The vaccine pass requires people over the age of 16 to show proof of their vaccination status to gain entry to a range of public venues including pubs, clubs, licensed restaurants and cinemas.

However, unlicensed restaurants and cafes are not included in the vaccine pass and are open to everyone.

The sign in question was first noticed at McDonald’s Katherine, which stated: “In line with NT government and Health requirements, all dine-in customers must be fully vaccinated”.

A Facebook user who spotted the discrepancy posted the sign online and asked: “If they aren’t a licensed premises why are they discriminating?”

“Couldn’t get a straight answer when I rang today,” he said.

A McDonald’s Australia spokesman confirmed there were multiple restaurants in the Northern Territory that had been displaying the sign.

“McDonald’s Australia continues to operate in accordance with government advice to keep our restaurants open and operating safely for customers and crew,” the spokesman said.

“In line with the most recent chief health officer directions, all customers are welcome to dine-in at our restaurants.

“We appreciate the continued patience of our customers as we continue to adapt and respond to this rapidly changing scenario.”

In areas currently under lockout rules, unvaccinated customers can continue to access drive-through and takeaway services, the spokesman said.

EARLIER: THE operator of the IGA supermarket near Uluru has defended its decision to ban unvaccinated people from entering.

The rule implemented at IGA Yulara, located inside the Ayers Rock Resort, was made by operators Voyages in consultation with Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation (MCAC), Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and the Northern Territory government.

Since the introduction of a vaccine pass system across the Territory on January 10, people over the age of 16 are required to show proof of their vaccination status to gain entry to a range of public venues including pubs, clubs, licensed restaurants and cinemas.

However, unvaccinated people may access essential services like supermarkets under the new mandate.

“Voyages is committed to continuously working with the Mutitjulu community to implement reasonable measures to protect the safety and wellbeing of our guests, our staff and the local community,” a company spokesman said.

MCAC chief executive Thalia Bohl-van den Boogaard backed the decision, saying everyone in the Mutitjulu community had access to their own community store and fuel station for essential services.

In Central Australia, Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Yuelamu and Amoonguna remain in a lockout as the NT government tries to ease pressure on the region’s health system.

Galiwin’ku and Yirrkala in the East Arnhem region entered lockdowns on Monday.

Acting Health Minister Nicole Manison revealed nine people were moved from the Alice Springs Hospital to the Todd quarantine facility on Sunday to make space at the hospital for “people who need to be there”.

“There has been work done in the last 24 hours to transfer some more of those people out of the hospital into the Todd facility,” Ms Manison told ABC Radio on Monday.

“Those hospital beds are really important, they need to be for those people who need that level of hospital care.

“Where we can have people in the Todd facility instead – where we do have medical practitioners and nurses that do assist – we will have we will have them there.”

Of the 284 new cases of Covid-19 recorded on Monday, several occurred at Alice Springs sites of concern.

There were two cases detected at Old Timers town camp, separate to the Old Timers Aged Care Service, where four more staff returned positive tests. An outbreak is growing at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, where a further six cases among inmates were detected. In addition, there was one patient at the Alyerre Renal Hostel who tested positive.

Originally published as McDonald’s removes signs banning unvaccinated customers from dining in at NT restaurants