Hotel owners devastated they can only cater to 10 diners and are calling for law changes

As NSW relaxes its laws and allows up to 50 people to dine in pubs, cafes and restaurants from June 1, Queensland business owners have spoken out calling for urgent changes in Queensland to help their crippling industry.

IN a shock move today NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced pubs, cafes and restaurants will be able to serve up to 50 people at a time from June 1.

The Premier described expanding the social-distancing limits as a “big step” in the economic recovery from COVID-19 but her move has shocked one family business in Queensland who says it is high time Queensland followed suit and started to support the hospitality industry.

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The Glen Hotel at Eight Mile Plains has been in the Fitzgibbons family since 1960.

Owners Brian and Cathy said their business had been gutted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The couple, who also own the Osbourne Hotel in Fortitude Valley, say the past three months have been their toughest time in business.

Brian Fitzgibbons at the Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains. Picture: Tara Croser.

“We feel in Queensland, given the low number of cases and quick adoption by all of the hotel sector of the covid safe plans that we should be able to have more people in our venues,” director Cathy Fitzgibbons said.

“There is no reason to not safely have 50 at any one time in the venue. For us to not be at least the same as NSW just defies reason.”

The new, more relaxed restrictions in NSW mean Australia’s worst-affected coronavirus state will be the nations most relaxed besides the Northern Territory.

“Most of the hotels in Queensland are large spaces with outdoor areas and a lot of fresh air and multiple zones,” Mrs Fitzgibbons said.

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“It’s a nightmare really. We have opened with 10 people to show we are open and here.

“There have been zero coronavirus cases in Queensland today and it is so low compared to NSW. They have more cases and there is no reason we have to wait until July 10 to have 100 people.”

“Ten is not viable. The next stage in Queensland is to have 20 people by June 13 but it is really not viable and not worth it. Again we will be out of pocket.”

“Turning lights on and starting up the fridges. There is no way that we can cover our costs and hold ambience.”

Owners Brian and Cathy Fitzgibbons at the Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains. Picture: Tara Croser

Mrs Fitzgibbons said when the business had to close its doors in March it broke them.

“This had been the first time ever we closed. I said to someone the other day I couldn’t talk about it for three weeks because we would just cry. It has been heartbreaking.”:

“Hotels are a major employer in this state and with both hotels we employ about 150 staff.”

Since March Mrs Fitzgibbons said they had stood down close to 130 people which had been devastating.

The Glen Hotel just started a soft opening two weeks ago with takeaway orders and this week opened the restaurant for 10 diners at a time.

“All our staff that were eligible for Jobkeeper are now working as we do a soft opening and go through each stage of the regulations,” she said.

“Despite being in the business for 60 years, without doubt we have had to make decisions we never imagined we would have to make and the most difficult was closing the doors of the hotel.

“We have no way of giving assurance to people of when we will open.”

“We have always thought we could get through tough times but to have no business and be ordered to close. There is no plan B for that.”

“We have been lucky to survive and we employ so many others from supplies to breweries, electricians and food suppliers.”