Sunshine Coast hospitality workers hit out at ‘unfair’ vaccine mandate

The owners of prominent Sunshine Coast hospitality venues have questioned the latest Covid-19 restrictions which they claim have unfairly targeted the struggling industry.

Sunshine Coast hospitality workers have spoken out over the latest Covid-19 restrictions which they say have unfairly targeted the struggling industry.

Under the state government’s latest restrictions introduced this week, any unvaccinated patrons, staff and business owners would be banned from pubs, clubs and restaurants under tough new rules.

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

The Wharf Mooloolaba co-owner Dirk Long called for a “blanket” rule to the restrictions, as opposed to “singling out” those in hospitality.

Dirk Long from Evans Long. Picture: Melanie McNiven

Mr Long, of Evans Long, said he had watched on as the industry was “beaten from pillar to post” for the past 18 months of the pandemic.

The prominent businessman, who is vaccinated and is pro-vaccine, claimed the hospitality industry had been unfairly targeted.

“We have been singled out for almost two years,” Mr Long said.

“Why do you not need to be vaccinated for retail or to go to Bunnings. It should be one rule for all. A blanket rule.”

Maroochydore nightclub owner Alex Johns said the announcement came as a “shock” and believed it would force hospitality workers to get the jab.

The Solbar co-owner said the decision had already forced his staff to take action.

Inside the Solbar nightclub on Ocean Street, Maroochydore.

He said one of his staff members had raced out to get the jab after hearing of the vaccine ultimatum.

“Most of our staff are in the 18-30 demographic, and it’s not that they’re anti-vax, it’s just that they have had better things to do. Now it’s a choice of between their social life and work,” Mr Johns said.

“At least this gives us some time to get the wheels in motion. Hopefully this will be one last curve ball to face before we come out the other end. I just want people to get vaccinated.

“For the past 18 months we’ve been working three times as hard, to generate half the revenue.”

Mr Johns said while the logistics would prove another hurdle to jump over the next few weeks, he said it was one way of returning to normal.

Both Mr Long and Mr Johns said there would be challenges in policing the unvaccinated rule for some customers.

“In some cases you can have 16-year-old staff trying to police at times fairly hostile customers, it’s very hard on their wellbeing,” Mr Long said.

“Why are hospitality workers being made to be gatekeepers?

“I am fully pro-vaccination but this is totally unreasonable, the disparity with retail and food and beverage.”

“The biggest concern is for the young waiter staff, as a nightclub we have trained staff to deal with difficult customers but it could be tough for the day to day guys in food and beverage,” Mr Johns said.

The state government instructed businesses to call police on people who try to enter their establishments without proving they’re vaccinated once restrictions are lifted.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said ignoring the tough new rules would not be tolerated.

Ms Carroll said $1378 fines would be handed out if people didn’t follow the rules, which come into play when the state hits the 80 per cent double-dose rate.

“We don’t expect venues to act as the police, that is actually our role,” Ms Carroll said.

“We do expect venues to please, when these changes come in, display the vaccination rules, ask for the evidence of vaccination.

“As I said, it is not the venue’s role to be the police, we will do that for you.”

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.