Coronavirus: Gold Coast hospitality bosses frustrated as restrictions continue despite Qld successfully flattening COVID-19 curve

“It’s frustrating. Two weeks on from the protest, there’s been no spikes in cases, there’s hardly any cases in Queensland, none with community transfer and the restrictions are still in place.”

A RESTAURATEUR on the cusp of rebelling and ignoring patron limits due to mass protests two weeks ago says coronavirus restrictions should be removed now there are few new cases.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk did not respond to questions directly about whether she would reconsider restrictions, including patron limits. But her office provided a general statement and directed the Bulletin to press conference transcripts.

Costa D'Oro co-owner Nuccia Fusco. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

Two weeks ago, Costa D’Oro restaurant owner Nuccia Fusco at Surfers Paradise said she felt like rebelling and ignoring patron limits given mass Black Lives Matter protests.

Yesterday, she fumed: “It’s frustrating. Two weeks on from the protest, there’s been no spikes in cases, there’s hardly any cases in Queensland, none with community transfer and the restrictions are still in place for hospitality, which doesn’t make sense.”

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“We all want the border open, however, even if (Ms Palaszczuk) keeps the borders closed, Queensland should be open to Queenslanders,” she said.

“Restrictions as they stand now are contradictory and don’t make sense. You are allowed to have unlimited people in shopping centres, markets, protests as long as you’re 1.5m away from each other.”

Ms Fusco can serve 50 patrons at a time instead of 170 at capacity.

Scott Imlach, who owns restaurants and bars, including Bine Bar and Dining at Mermaid Beach and Nightcap at Nobby Beach, said the industry was “left in the lurch”.

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Monday was a fortnight since 30,000 Black Lives Matter protesters marched in Brisbane. No new cases have been linked to the gathering and since then Queensland has recorded five new cases

“We’re frustrated. It’s ridiculous. Where are we going with this, when will the next step happen? What’s the game plan?” Mr Imlach said.

Hospitality boss Scott Imlach says restrictions should be lifted. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“It‘s bizarre what’s going on.”

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At the time of the June 6 protest, 1061 cases had been recorded in total, including three active cases statewide. That had risen to 1066 yesterday, including only two active cases, according to Deputy Premier Steven Miles.

Mr Imlach said existing Stage Two restrictions, limiting venues to 20 patrons per defined area with at least 4 sqm of floor space per person, required more staff than normal, despite some venues operating at a fifth of capacity.

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“You’ve got to put staff on because you’ve got to do table service everywhere and you can’t go to the bar and order a drink, even though you can go to a cafe and get a takeaway coffee. It’s absolutely stupid, doesn’t make sense at all. It’s a costly exercise,” he said.

He said takings were down 80 per cent at some venues.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says COVID-19 community transmission in Victoria is a concern. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall agreed restrictions should be reconsidered.

“There’s been no new cases from the protest and it reinforces we need to increase the gap and remove the cap,” he said. “The hurt is being compounded by the delay and uncertainty around the border opening. Things aren’t getting any better,” he said.

Main Beach’s Domani’s restaurant owner Neil Fisher said he was “surviving” but “could use a few more people being allowed in”.

He was supportive of ending all restrictions but “maybe wait a week or two and see what happens in Victoria”.

“As long as there’s not any more stupid protests,” he said.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall. Picture: Richard Gosling

The State Government’s Roadmap to Easing Queensland’s Restrictions states rules could ease from July 10, “subject to … review”.

But Ms Palaszczuk has raised concerns about dozens of new COVID-19 cases in Victoria and avoiding a “second wave” in Queensland.

A spokesman for the Premier said she made it clear people should not protest during the pandemic.

The spokesman said the roadmap was “a path to recovery” that could be delivered “because we continue to manage the health impacts”.

Relief to small businesses has included grants, loans and payroll relief, he said.