Hospitality sector criticises Premier Steven Marshall over ‘tills are still ringing’ comments

Still reeling by tough restrictions, the hospitality sector is now furious with the Premier over comments made at a press conference.

Premier Steven Marshall has been strongly criticised by hospitality owners after stating in Monday’s press conference that the “tills are still ringing”.

Simone Douglas, co-founder of the Hospo Owners Collective and owner of the Duke of Brunswick, said the comments showed unbelievable arrogance.

“It just shows how out of touch the leader of our state is,” she said.

Ms Douglas said the government had ruined the peak period for hospitality venues by reducing density limits as Covid cases surge.

“The three months from the first of October till the end of December, we make 45 per cent of our profits for the entire year,” she said.

“We ran at a loss this quarter, no ifs, buts or maybes, and that loss has dipped into lines of credit.”

Hospo Owners Collective co-founders Jason Makarenko and Simone Douglas with other hospo owners, staff and family members. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

A couple of days before New Year’s Eve, the state government reduced density limits for gyms and dining.

Gyms were returned to limits of one person per 7sqm, while dining density has been limited to one person per 4sqm indoors and one person per 2sqm outdoors. Home gatherings have been capped at 10 people, including children and babies.

Jason Makarenko, co-owner of karaoke bar La Sing, heavily criticised the state transition committee for opening the borders and allowing Omicron to take off.

“The Marshall government and the transition committee opened the state and closed the businesses, basically,” Mr Makarenko said.

“As a result, we’re seeing the entire hospitality industry and music industry and other subsidiary businesses that support that, close for business, effectively.”

At a press conference on Tuesday, Premier Steven Marshall rejected ideas on easing restrictions.

“We’re not taking our health advice from the hospitality sector … we’re taking it from medical professionals,” he said.

Former Director of Public Prosecutions and independent MLC candidate for Real Change SA Stephen Pallaras QC has called for lockout laws to be scrapped, saying they hurt small businesses.

“The lockout makes no sense,” he said. “It has failed interstate and it has failed here on a bigger scale.”

Mr Pallaras labelled the continuation of the law “stupid” and said it was sending money over the border.

“All of the economic activity is now gone and where has it gone? It has gone to Melbourne and Sydney because they had the sense to throw this law out,” he said.

“They didn’t want to continue the destruction of their night-life but we apparently don’t see that as a good reason to get rid of this law.”

A spokesperson from the state government said the pandemic had delayed a comprehensive review of the Late Night Trading Code

“The review will be completed when it is appropriate to do so. Current laws do not prevent venues that are licensed to do so from trading beyond 3am,” a spokesperson said.

“The health and safety of South Australians is paramount at this time and sudden changes to lockout laws during the pandemic without giving proper consideration to the health and police advice would be irresponsible.”