Massive fines as Queensland introduces tough new rules for unvaccinated

Unvaccinated patrons, staff and even business owners will be banned from pubs, clubs and restaurants under tough new restrictions, with police promising to crackdown on people who refuse to follow the rules.

Unvaccinated patrons, staff and even business owners will be banned from pubs, clubs and restaurants under tough new rules that lock out those who refuse to protect themselves.

The new rules, brought about because of pressure from business groups as well as ongoing vaccine hesitancy across the state, would see businesses who refuse to abide by the measures forced to close.

Police have also promised to crack down on unruly customers, encouraging businesses to call police who would issue $1378 fines.

The government announced new freedoms on Tuesday, the timing a surprise to many including ministers who were not asked to sign off on the plan in Cabinet.

But insiders say the government has been weighing measures for weeks following calls from business for certainty and as a message to those still reluctant to get the jab ahead of borders swinging open on December 17.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced new restrictions for unvaccinated Queenslanders. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Public health orders will be made in coming days under the chief health officer’s extraordinary powers setting the new rules in stone and allowing businesses to require their staff to get the jab – which many had told the government they wanted to do, but couldn’t unless there was a mandate.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said people deserved to know they were safe when visiting venues and events.

“I think people want to be able to go to a music festival or a stadium or a cafe or restaurant and know the people around them are fully vaccinated and it’s safe for their family to go to these venues,” she said.

Authorities said the businesses were chosen because they were “not essential for people to meet their basic needs, but present a considerable risk to contributing to an outbreak in our community when our borders reopen”.

Funerals will continue operating under current density restrictions.

But brides and grooms who invite unvaccinated people to their weddings will have their guest list cut to 20.

The Premier confirmed masks will be largely scrapped when the state hits 80 per cent first doses in coming days as she announced another day of no local cases.

CCIQ policy and advocacy general manager Amanda Rohan said the announcement was “a good start” in providing the certainty and clarity business had been seeking.

“This is an early runway for business to be able to be prepared,” she said.

There would likely be more questions in coming days but the government was working well to provide clarity when issues arose, she said.

“We are still seeking confirmation on protocols and guidelines if a business premises is exposed to a positive case with further details to come as well as rapid antigen testing as a first line of defence for businesses,” Ms Rohan said.

Romy Poulier, Nick Woodward, Harriet Stratford, and Jack Hutchison enjoy a drink at Rick Shores, Burleigh Heads. Picture: Adam Head

Queensland Hotels Association chief executive Bernie Hogan said generally the changes were accepted because it gave businesses some legal coverage if they’re required to turn away customers.

“Most Queenslanders will see no difference whatsoever,” he said.

“For those areas where they’ve either had slow vaccination rates or had no experience of lockdowns … this may be a bit of a shock to some Queenslanders now that there is actually a ramification for them making the decisions they are.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said small and family businesses deserved to know whether the “government’s got their back” when the changes are implemented.

Meanwhile Queensland’s Katter’s Australian Party MPs claimed the government had “sown the seeds of an ‘us vs them’ mentality that will divide citizens, leave businesses in the lurch and is reminiscent of some of the darkest periods of human history”.

It comes as the check-in app will be updated to reflect a person’s vaccination status from November 19.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll urged businesses dealing with difficult patrons to call the police.

“We don’t expect venues to act as the police, that is actually our role,” Ms Carroll said, drawing relief from businesses who were worried about how they would ensure requirements were being met.

But she said businesses should display the vaccination rules and ask for evidence of vaccination.

“And if there is no evidence, they can obviously ask that person to leave and if they refuse to leave, to call the police.”

Meanwhile, Queensland’s border pass system is set to be fully automated, with people uploading their vaccine certificates online to reduce traffic chaos on the Gold Coast once interstate borders reopen.

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police would not intercept every car, but there would still be a police presence to catch those flouting the law.