Brisbane blames QHealth for lack of compliance
Brisbane City Council has defended its low number of COVID-19 compliance checks on restaurants and cafes, instead placing the blame on a Queensland Health directive.
QLD News
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BRISBANE City Council has defended its lack of COVID spot checks at restaurants and cafes, revealing it was warned by Queensland Health against proactively policing the compliance measures.
Just 159 Brisbane venues were inspected since May 15 compared to 2623 on the Gold Coast.
Brisbane City Council’s City Standards, Community Health and Safety Chair Kim Marx blamed the low inspection numbers on a request by Queensland Health not to do random spot checks.
“Brisbane City Council has never been asked by Queensland Health or the State Government to undertake spot checks of restaurants and cafes,” she said.
“We were specifically advised by Queensland Health to undertake education and reactive compliance activities only.”
Cr Marx said the council inspected venues when a compliance complaint was lodged.
It’s understood Brisbane City Council officers yesterday visited the 10 restaurants and cafes The Courier-Mail reported were accused of flaunting COVID-safe measures.
Cr Marx said the State Government insisted councils were to educate businesses of COVID-safe measures, rather than fining them.
“The low number of complaints reflects the fact that the majority of businesses are doing the right thing,” she said.
“If residents believe there are cafes and restaurants breaching the State’s rules, they need to let us know.”
Neither Gold Coast nor Brisbane city councils had issued any fines over COVID-safe breaches.
Last week Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young wrote to the peak bodies of restaurants, pubs and cafes warning them of the need to take diners’ details for contact tracing.
Originally published as Brisbane blames QHealth for lack of compliance