Jobless queue will grow if restrictions not eased, hospitality workers warn

As the end of JobKeeper looms, hospitality workers have again urged the rollback of restrictions so their jobs can survive.

The state’s unemployment rate, already the highest in Australia, will balloon even further unless the remaining coronavirus-related restrictions in the hospitality industry are eased, according to publican Simone Douglas.

Ms Douglas is publican of the Duke of Brunswick in the CBD and is co-founder of industry group Hospo Owners Collective, which last week wrote an open letter to Premier Steven Marshall and the transition committee, calling for rules to be eased to one person per 1.5sq m instead of one per 2sq m, and for dance floor limits to be raised to 100 people, up from 50.

Owner of the Duke of Brunswick Hotel, Simone Douglas. Picture: AAP / Dean Martin

However, Ms Douglas said she had received no contact from Mr Marshall or his office offering to discuss the group’s concerns, which prompted what she termed a “visual protest” at Elder Park in the city on Sunday.

The Hospo Owners Collective, which represents about 120 businesses, was supported by the Australian Hotels Association and Business SA. Those present brought an empty plate, symbolising the government was taking “food off our plate”.

“We tried the open letter and didn’t get a response,’’ Ms Douglas said. “They do say a picture is worth a thousand words.’’

Hospitality Owners protest the COVID restrictions in Elder Park on Sunday March 21. Picture: Dean Martin

Ms Douglas said many business owners were struggling with debt and having to pay creditors such as landlords rent that had been deferred during the height of the COVID-19 crisis. She also said many jobs would be lost once the JobKeeper supplement finishes next week.

“If you are still qualifying for JobKeeper now, there is no way in hell those jobs are going to keep continuing post that cut off,’’ she said.

“It’s not going to be pretty for the next round of unemployment figures, I wouldn’t have thought, if we don’t get some easement in capacity restrictions.’’

Premier Steven Marshall reiterated that “we don’t want to keep these restrictions in place one day longer than we need to’’ and said they had been vital in keeping South Australians safe. “Those collective sacrifices that businesses and individuals have made are ultimately was has kept our state safe and our economy strong,” he said.