Burleigh Pavilion boss Ben May urges Gold Coast to get jabbed

The boss of a popular Gold Coast venue is urging the city to get vaccinated before the summer, while backing the Queensland Government to reopen at 80 per cent.

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A FRUSTRATED NSW-based Gold Coast hospitality bigwig can’t see why the Queensland Premier won’t commit to reopening the state once 80 per cent are vaccinated

Burleigh Pavilion owner Ben May, who operates venues across the Gold Coast and Sydney, is also urging people to get vaccinated to help hasten the effort to reopen.

Queensland indoor venues must abide by one patron per four square metres and customers having to be seated again wasn’t ideal but it was better than being closed completely, he said.

Small venues up to 200 square metres can have one patron per two square metres.

Burleigh Pavilion owner, Ben May, is urging Gold Coasters to get vaccinated. Picture: Jerad Williams

“From this week to last week when we didn’t have restrictions, the Pavilion lost 30 to 40 per cent of trade,” he said. “That’s better than my Sydney businesses though that are completely shut.

“To Queensland’s credit they have handled the Covid situation well but if people don’t get vaccinated it won’t end well.

“Compared to other states, Queensland is a month behind and there is fear across the hospitality industry that any outbreak will cause a lockdown.”

The New South Wales Government have put a two-tiered system in place to gradually reopen locked-down Sydney from October 11 to December 1.

Burleigh Pavilion lost 30 to 40 per cent of trade from restrictions last weekend.

Last week the fully vaccinated rate in NSW was just under 63 per cent compared to Queensland’s 45 per cent aged 16 years and older.

Mr May said that was why Sydney is easing restrictions and would most likely be free of regulations by summer.

“Getting vaccinated is the answer. It might not be the best one but it’s our only one,” he said.

“At the moment it looks like Queensland won’t reach the 80 per cent mark until early December.

“Palaszczuk has been good so far and understandable. I don’t see why she wouldn’t stick to her 80 per cent promise to open borders. She does cop criticism from Sydney but she’s done well to date.

“Queenslanders do need to get vaccinated to make sure we have a summer without restrictions.”

South African fans cheer during The Rugby Championship match between the South Africa Springboks and New Zealand All Blacks at Cbus Super Stadium. Photo: Jono Searle/Getty Images

On Saturday Gold Coast‘s Cbus Stadium hosted 20,000 fans at the Rugby Championships and Sunday night’s NRL Grand Final hosted 39,000 spectators at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Despite his praise for the Queensland Premier, Mr May said it did seem there were different rules for major sporting events compared to hospitality.

“It is hard seeing 40,000 people jumping around in one space when the hospitality restrictions are so tight,” he said.

“I was watching the Tests and it didn’t look like there was much spacing.

“There does seem to be different rules for different businesses but it is what it is.”

Scott Imlach said he is sick of the Queensland Government’s double standards. Picture Glenn Hampson

Gold Coast hospitality boss Scott Imlach, whose portfolio includes Bine Bar, Night Jar, Night Cap and Precinct Brewing said he too was sick of the double standard.

“The government doesn’t listen to us no matter how much we jump up and down,” he said.

“The live music and entertainment get’s hammered every time with restrictions.

“I don’t understand how you can get thousands of people in a stadium but we can’t get 100 people in a bar.

“It is debatable whether she (Ms Palaszczuk) is making the right calls but I don’t think any of the premiers are making the right decisions.”

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