Huge push to reopen Melbourne’s bars, restaurants at start of next month

Hospitality venues must reopen on October 1, the day the state’s first-dose vax rate is expected to hit 80 per cent, Victoria’s peak industry body says.

Melbourne’s restaurants, pubs and retailers must reopen when the state’s first-dose vaccination rates hit 80 per cent – projected to be October 1 – Victoria’s peak industry body says.

Business and industry groups are revealing their own reopening road maps after their pleas to the government for a plan have so far gone answered.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has 47,000 members, is calling for city businesses to be open at 25 per cent of indoor capacity, capped at 150 patrons, once the 80 per cent single-dose target is hit.

It comes as Restaurant and Catering Australia demands Caulfield Cup day on October 16 be a “Freedom Trial” for an even more extensive reopening, vaccine passports and rapid antigen testing.

Under the staged VECCI plan, businesses in regional Victoria that have been Covid-free for 14 days would open at 25 per cent indoor capacity, capped at 150 patrons.

The same settings would be then be introduced across Melbourne when 80 per cent of Victorians have had their first dose – currently projected by Covid Live to be on October 1.

Vaccine passports and face masks would be used.

Manager of Richmond’s Rising Sun Hotel Liam Reardon says the lack of a reopening plan for hospitality has made this year ‘tougher’ than 2020. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Restrictions other than QR check-ins would be lifted from businesses when the state hits 80 per cent fully vaccinated, expected in mid-November.

Chief executive Paul Guerra said there were 140,000 businesses surviving off state and federal assistance which needed a clear path to reopen.

“Business cannot survive just on handouts – businesses are going further and further into debt and the only way to come out of that is to reopen,” he said. “We need a plan to take us forward.”

It comes as NSW is on Thursday expected to announce that Sydney retail stores, bars and hospitality venues will be able to open about October 18, when the state reaches 70 per cent doubled-dosed vaccination rates.

Key Victorian industry groups, including the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association, the Australian Hotels Association, Australian Industry Group and Small Business Victoria say business here is flying blind without hope in the absence of any detailed sector-by-sector opening plan.

Restaurant and Catering Association chief executive Wes Lambert said Victoria needed a “freedom plan”.

As well as pushing for the “Freedom Trial” on Caulfield Cup day, the association wants an even greater reopening on Melbourne Cup day with Victoria due to hit the 70 per cent fully vaccinated milestone soon after.

It would result in venues being able to trade at one person per 4 sqm indoors with no capacity limits.

Vaccine passports and face masks would be used along with rapid antigen testing for large outdoor events.

“The overwhelming message is get vaccinated, that is the fastest way to get out of lockdowns,” he said.

“But certainly we need some steps out of lockdowns that are reachable sooner than two months away.

“There are many businesses that have been clinging on to life, with state funding and grants available but that won’t survive through spring and summer if they are just given peanuts. They need a road map from the government that’s realistic and tells the truth about what’s coming.”

Harry the Hirer chief executive Gab Robinson says his event hire business has been forced to lay off more than 1000 workers. Picture: Tony Gough

Australian Industry Group Victoria branch head Tim Piper said there was a cloud of “despondency and uncertainty” hanging over the business sector.

“Employers cannot plan ahead without some idea of when they can start mobilising their workers in businesses currently unable to operate,” he said.

Australian Hotels Association Victoria branch president David Canny said pubs “need to know what achieving different vaccination targets specifically means to them”.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council chief Felicia Mariani said tourism operators would need ongoing support if the state was to only open when the 80 per cent double vaccination rate was achieved.

“While a road map is needed for exiting Lockdown 6.0, Victoria’s visitor economy is on its knees right now and must be supported to navigate the next six to eight weeks when the 80 per cent double-dose target is met,” she said.

Small Business Australia chief executive Bill Lang said “small business families are being treated like mushrooms, kept completely in the dark”.

“There is no transparency on why decisions are made, no release of health data as to why we are locked down, or even a date of reopening to work towards,” he said.

The state government has only committed to a very limited easing of restrictions once 70 per cent of Victorians have had a single dose, with significant easing only to come once they are double dosed.