Gold Coast Costa D’Oro co-owner Nuccio Fusco labels Premier’s eased restrictions ’hypocritical’

A popular Gold Coast restaurant owner is calling Queensland’s new eased restrictions “hypocritical” due to a 50 patron cap keeping her business at existing levels.

A POPULAR Gold Coast restaurant owner is calling Queensland’s new eased restrictions “hypocritical” due to a 50 patron cap keeping her business at existing levels.

When Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk fast-tracked some aspects of stage 3 restrictions including boosting patrons on Tuesday, Costa D’Oro co-owner Nuccia Fusco rang up two staff to tell them they can return to work.

Mrs Fusco and her co-owner husband Michael Fusco were excited to hire more staff due to the one patron per four square metre rule being relaxed to two square metres for businesses under 200 sq m from Friday.

But they realised businesses under 200 sqm will also be restricted to a capped maximum of 50 customers at once - which is their now capacity under the old four square metre rule - so they had to tell the staff members they were not needed.

Costa D'Oro Italian restaurant owners Michael and Nuccia Fusco. Photo by Richard Gosling

$520m a month, 50k jobs to flow from eased restrictions

“We were so excited when we heard we’ll be able to have more customers under the two square metre rule,” Mrs Fusco said.

“Then to read the fine print and find out that we’re still capped at 50 people is ridiculous and confusing.

“It means a business could be twice the size of another and pay double the rent but will only be allowed the same amount of customers.”

Premier Queensland Premier Annastacia Annastacia Palaszczuk announces eased restrictions. Picture: David Kapernick

MORE STORIES

Coast businesses get border relief

Mrs Fusco has been critical of the Palaszczuk Government before when the Premier failed to clamp down on protests in the state in early June while having crippling customer limits on hospitality businesses.

The frustrated restaurant owner said the latest relaxations and border date by the Premier were steps in the right direction but inconsistent.”

Ms Palaszczuk opened up house parties to up to 100 people, twice the venues under 200 sq metre cap.

A frustrated Ms Fusco said: “We keep records of who has been in the restaurant, we clean everything multiple times a day and keep everyone social distancing.

“You then go supermarket shopping and see people shoulder to shoulder and someone can now have 100 people over for a party, it’s just hypocritical.

Nuccia Fusco of Costa D'Oro labels Premier’s eased restrictions “hypocritical”. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Millions to be spent reviving Coast’s economy

“It’s great the border will reopen but it could mean we’re turning more people away because tourism will pick up but our customer limit stays the same.”

Francesco Boccone was the first staff member the Italian restaurant put on when stage two restrictions came in and he said it was a shame more of his co-workers aren’t able to return.

“We do everything right and stick to all the restrictions but don’t get any help,” he said.

“We currently have an open space out the front that could seat so many more people but can only have 20, and that will have to continue.”

Ms Palaszczuk has been asked for comment on whether she would reconsider the 50-patron cap for those smaller venues.