Goondi Hill Hotel lunch and dinner menu discount for unvaccinated

A Far Northern pub is offering unvaccinated customers a discount in a bid to boost revenue after significantly losing business following the introduction of mandates.

A FAR Northern publican struggling to stay afloat has introduced an eye-catching initiative to boost revenue and avoid staff cuts.

Troy Jones of Goondi Hill Hotel at Innisfail is offering his lunch and dinner menus for takeaway via the bottle shop’s drive-through, with a 10 per cent discount for unvaccinated customers.

“We average about 170 meals, lunch and dinner on a Saturday and Sunday. Last weekend we did 28,” Mr Jones said.

“It’s killing businesses. We’re down 80 per cent in the bistro, bar’s down about 60 per cent, gaming is down, the bottle shop is keeping us going at the moment.

“If I didn’t have the bottle shop I’d probably close the doors.”

Mr Jones said there was some criticism of his offer with social media users pointing out he was “discriminating against those vaccinated.”

“We need to increase revenue, as simple as that,” he said.

“I’m hearing people, including double-vaxxed are scared to go out.

“We had a function of 50 people cancelled because they were scared to catch Covid.

“But I’ve got 18 staff that have mortgages and have rent to pay.

“So it’s a fine line of cutting hours but still giving them enough to keep them employed and paying their bills.”

On Thursday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stated Queensland was expected to hit 90 per cent double vaccination next week, however she said “mandates requiring people to be fully vaccinated to be able to enter events and venues will remain.”

“They said once we reached 80 per cent we wouldn’t have to wear masks again, we’re nearly at 90 per cent and we’re wearing masks everywhere we go,” Mr Jones said in response.

“The government have got a job to do, I get that, they need to keep everyone safe.

“But if any number of people can walk into a supermarket unvaccinated yet someone can’t sit in a pub and have a drink on their own, it just doesn’t make sense.

“You’ll see more businesses close.”

Originally published as Goondi Hill Hotel lunch and dinner menu discount for unvaccinated