Enterprise Fitness founder Mark Ottobre calls for no-confidence vote against state government
A Melbourne gym owner wants Victorian MPs to support a no-confidence vote against the state government as harsh restrictions continue to cripple the industry.
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A Melbourne gym owner is calling for Victorian MPs to support a no-confidence vote against the state government, saying the industry faces devastation.
Richmond Enterprise Fitness founder Mark Ottobre is among a growing number of businesses concerned that they will not be able to reopen until November 23, under Melbourne’s current road map.
“It’s unbelievably painful,” Mr Ottobre said.
“Especially when you consider anyone can go to the pub, but you can’t go to the gym where you have to hand over your details and log in.
“Under the plan it will be a total of nine months we have not been open.
“They are destroying the fitness industry,” he said.
Mr Ottobre is supporting an Opposition push for a vote of no-confidence in the Andrews Goverment next month.
“I have no confidence in them,” he said.
Single mum Ellen Williams is pleading for gyms to be given the green light to open their doors earlier.
The 43-year-old lost her husband to suicide in late 2018 and said the gym was her coping mechanism.
“It’s 100 per cent my therapy,” she said.
“It might seem odd to some people but fitness is a huge part of my life.
“I’m a single parent — I don’t have a lot, but this is the one thing I do for me.”
Ms Williams said she was confident gyms could reopen safely.
“The machines are cleaned, you tag in every session and there is a rule no towel no train.”
“It just seems unfair.”
The gym industry has hit out at comments made by Victoria Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton in September, that gyms were a “known high-risk setting” that “cause outbreaks”.
“These are just unsubstantiated,” Mr Ottobre said.
Premier Daniel Andrews last week was unable to name “any specific cases” of outbreaks at gyms in Australia but held firm on his gym ban.
Fitness guru Tony Doherty, who owns Doherty’s Gym said the delays were “disgraceful”.
Other well know franchise chains have also flagged a focus on moving to New South Wales amid increasing uncertainty in Victoria.
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