Fitness Australia lashes out at State Government’s response on reopening gyms
Australia’s peak fitness body says tens of thousands of gym owners and members have been once again left in the dark, with a Deputy Chief Health Officer letter providing “little hope” to the industry.
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Fitness Australia has slammed the State Government’s response on reopening gyms, saying it provided “little hope” to the industry.
The Leader can reveal a letter was sent by the Deputy Chief Health Officer Professor Allen Cheng on Friday to Fitness Australia and other industry leaders, providing no answers as to when gyms would reopen in Victoria.
The letter comes after Fitness Australia’s chief executive Barrie Elvish and other industry leaders met with Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng last month to discuss gyms reopening and covid safe measures for fitness facilities.
In Prof Cheng’s letter, seen by Leader, it states: “The work done subsequent to our meeting is helpful to the team as we constantly review and consider the appropriate settings within the road map, and I thank the industry for it.”
Prof Cheng also thanked the industry leaders and made certain recommendations to outdoor training guidelines.
Fitness Australia’s Mr Elvish said he was “extremely disappointed” with the response provided by Prof Cheng.
“On Friday evening, Fitness Australia received the “considered response” that unfortunately gives the Victorian fitness sector, its businesses, employees and 900,000 gym members little hope,” he said.
“A situation exacerbated by recent comments from the Premier that restrictions may not be relaxed as soon as had been anticipated but conversely pleading with Victorians not to give up hope.”
Mr Elvish said the response was just “white noise” on paper.
“If these guys were creative, they could’ve said let’s try what you’re talking about in a region of Victoria,” he said.
Mr Elvish said he was aware of at least two gyms in Victoria, which had been forced to shut their doors due to the financial impacts of the pandemic.
“Gym owners are facing a Christmas with great uncertainty including whether they have a business in 2021 and thousands of employees who don’t know if they have a job — it’s just not good enough.
“Why this state is so different to every other state in Australia is beyond comprehension.”
Mr Elvish said the fitness industry’s covid safe plan was extremely effective.
“Gyms should not be deemed high-risk, there was a case in Sydney last week where a member attended with the virus, within 20 minutes that gym could provide contact details of every person that was in that gym to the health department.”
Khalid Raffoul, of Melbourne’s southeast, said not being able to train had taken a “huge mental toll” on him and affected his overall wellbeing.
“I was training seven days a week and I had lost 50kg. The gym is a community and it’s an important part of my life and many others, they need to reopen them as a priority,” Mr Raffoul said.
Last month, fitness guru Tony Doherty made an urgent plea for gyms to reopen, saying they should be considered an “essential service”.
Mr Doherty, who owns Doherty’s Gym and is the promoter of Arnold Sports Festival Australia, said contact tracing at gyms was “far ahead” compared to any other industry.
DHHS has been contacted for comment.
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