Norman publican James Power says throw another steak on the home barbie

A long lunch with a beer and a good steak at the local pub is becoming a distant memory for most of us but one iconic watering hole has come up with the next best thing as we continue to self-isolate during the coronavirus pandemic.

THE pub steak is the quintessential Queensland experience many of us are missing during the coronavirus shutdown, but the nearest thing is being provided by the iconic Norman Hotel at Woolloongabba.

The Norman Hotel.

Norman Hotel proprietor James Power tells City Beat that although the famous watering hole was temporarily closed, people could still order their favourite steak to put on the barbecue at home.

“I am surprised at the take up,” says Power. “A steak at the Norman is a regular occurrence for a lot of people and this way we can provide barbecue packs for people to take home with their favourite mushroom or chilli sauce.” The BBQ pack includes 4 pieces of steak (uncooked) from the hotel meat cabinet, choice of sauce, baked potato with bacon, slaw and garlic bread.

Power says the takeaway trade is allowing him to keep a small number of staff employed during the shutdown. “We will survive this but it is a very tough time for lots of publicans and small business people,” says Power, who has had to lay off more than 30 staff.

 He says the Federal Government’s JobKeeper program will be a lifeline for staff in the weeks ahead.

ONLINE TAKE-OFF

TALKING about businesses innovating in the age of coronavirus, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) Thursday launched an online airport retail store giving consumers access to sought after products, some at heavily discounted prices.

With airport stores solely reliant on passenger foot traffic, which has fallen 96 per cent since the end of March due to travel restrictions, airport retailers were holding millions of dollars of stock.

The site will feature nearly 200 highly sought-after tech items as well as watches and beauty products, with other products being added each week.

Planes parked up at Brisbane Airport

HAND IN HAND 

WE live in strange times when a photo of someone shaking hands can attract controversy.

Cameron Dick.

A City Beat spy alerted us yesterday to a photo posted on LinkedIn of Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Cameron Dick shaking hands with factory workers in what appeared to be a breach of social distancing rules.

The photo accompanied an article by Dick on how Queensland manufacturers were stepping up to the plate in the fight against coronavirus.

The minister’s people were quick to explain that the photo dated back to 2018 so there was no breach of social distancing.

After the tip off from City Beat’s self-appointed social distancing police, the minister put up a note on Facebook explaining the “the image above was taken in 2018 at the Queensland Defence Summit Ipswich. Please save your gotchas.” Ouch!

SHIP AHOY 

GOOD to see the state’s vital mining sector is still moving despite the lock-down seen in other parts of the economy. Brisbane-based Metro Mining’s Weipa bauxite mine is busy overseeing the loading of a ship destined for China where aluminium giant Xinfa will help transform it into cars, planes and consumer goods for the recovering mainland economy.

Xinfa is Metro’s foundation customer with an agreement to purchase approximately two million dry metric tonnes under existing off-take arrangements.

Metro Mining managing director Simon Finnis says it has been an excellent start to the year despite the operational changes the company has has to implement to deal with the risk of Covid-19.

“ Our workforce has had to make adjustments to their working lives, including some who have relocated to Cairns,” says Finnis. “I applaud and thank everyone for their efforts.”

BETS OFF 

THE corporate watchdog has put the kybosh on punters trying to bet on the crazy casino that is the stock market these days.

You might recall that gaming group Sportsbet earlier this month rolled out betting options on the share market index allowing punters to place bets on whether the ASX200 and All Ordinaries Index will be higher or lower at the close of the trading day.

The product was consequently withdrawn after Sportsbet identified to ASIC challenges in implementing its control framework in the current environment, with many staff working remotely.