Anti-mandaters take to Google, Facebook reviews to sledge Burleigh Pavilion after strong stance on vaccination

Trolls against Queensland’s vaccination mandates have launched a petty attack on a popular Gold Coast venue, after it revealed its strong stance on vaccinated patrons.

Anti-mandate trolls are review-bombing popular Burleigh Pavilion after its owner told unvaccinated patrons to “forget about” trying to enter after mandates kick in.

On Saturday the Pavilion owner Ben May came out strong, backing the state government’s hard line plan to ban unvaccinated patrons from all pubs, cafes and some public spaces.

At the time, he said people had known for months mandates would kick in and “if someone can’t get a coffee or something to eat because they aren’t vaccinated I don’t really care”.

But critics have returned fire, taking to social media, and Google reviews to attack the venue by ‘review bombing’.

Burleigh Pavilion owner Ben May. Picture: Jerad Williams

Since the story was published the venue’s rating has dipped significantly to 3.7 stars after about 200 one-star Google reviews.

The majority of these are from users with only a single review under their belt.

Comments include comparing vaccination mandates to “apartheid” and “segregation”:

“As a regular vaxxed customer I will never spend any money here again. I do not support fascism, apartheid or authoritarianism,” and, “Good food, but awful policies … I cannot support places that support modern segregation policies.”

Others were quick to defend the venue’s reputation: “Get vaxxed and go enjoy some delicious food and beautiful views,” and, “I have not been to this establishment but I’m happy to give it five stars because of its vaccine stance.”

Mr May said “there are processes to protect businesses” against such reviews, and have them removed.

Examples of the reviews from trolls.

Many openly claimed to have never even visited the business.

“We are well versed on how we manage (the negative reviews). It takes some time for Facebook and (Google) to deal with it … but (they) won’t be there long.

He backed in his strong stance on vaccinations, saying as a hospitality boss, it’s his responsibility to get patrons in, and keep people employed.

“I don’t write the mandates, I feel I have a duty to uphold them, I am a firm believer in vaccination, as for a long time we have known this is the only way out of this situation,” he said.

“I got vaccinated the day I was able to be, I got my booster shot imminently, my businesses have been incredibly affected by coronavirus, so maybe I’m more invested than some.”

In October a Tweed business was forced to close after copping racist abuse for following health guidelines to only serve vaccinated customers.

Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce Hilary Jacobs took aim at internet giants for allowing review bombing.

“It’s disappointing people would do this to a business, but it’s also disappointing social media platforms perpetuate this sort of thing,” she said. “These big multinational companies don’t take any responsibility and don’t require people to have any proof of the experience they’re reporting on.

“It’s disappointing for the rest of us because you can’t trust what it says on the internet.”

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) policy and advocacy genera manager Amanda Rohan said the new mandate rules would disproportionately impact small businesses – especially those in regional areas.

“Businesses who have had to navigate the process of potentially standing down or dismissing unvaccinated staff are concerned it may all be for a potentially short-lived mandate,” she said.

“(They) are very concerned conditions and rules for them, their staff and customers will change again when the state reaches the next vaccination milestone.

“Businesses are desperate to know what the next vaccine milestone will be.”

Ms Rohan said new guidelines indicate from January 1, businesses or venues listed

as exposure sites would be ‘extremely unlikely’ to be closed when a positive case was

detected. A routine clean instead to minimise disruption was a positive sign for uncertain businesses.

As of today 82.3 per cent of Queenslanders have now had a first dose and 81.2 per cent have also had their second dose.

Prime Minister Scott Morrision has spoken against the Queensland mandates saying everyone should be “able to get a cup of coffee”.

Mayor Tom Tate also said he was pro choice and if a business wanted to let unvaccinated patrons in he was “pro choice in that regard”.