Vic hospo businesses may close for a day between now and the November 2026 state election, to protest Allan govt’s gas reforms

Fuming restaurant owners are threatening to close their doors for a full day to protest the Allan government’s gas reforms, in strike action which would bleed up to $6m in taxes from the Victorian economy.

Thousands of Victorian restaurants are threatening to close their doors for a day to protest the Allan government’s gas reforms, in strike action which would create chaos across the state and bleed up to $6m in taxes from the Victorian economy.

Australian Restaurant and Café Association (ARCA) chief executive Wes Lambert said the single-day shutdown would ensure the voices of those working in the sector — worth $60m a day — were heard.

A date for the mass shutdown has not yet been set, but it could occur anytime before the November 2026 election if hospitality organisations did not believe the government was willing to change its plans to make all new restaurants, cafes and bars fully electric, he said.

While the Allan government this week backed down on its unpopular plan to force Victorian homes off gas, all new commercial buildings — with the exception of industrial, manufacturing, and agricultural facilities — must be fully electric from January 1, 2027.

Mr Lambert earlier this week said it was a “bombshell” for the hospitality industry that would have major repercussions.

“The industry is willing to stand up and come together for a state day of closure in order to highlight to the Premier and the relevant ministers that we mean business,” Mr Lambert said.

Eric Nguyen cooks using gas at Astoria Bar K Grill. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Prominent Melbourne restaurateur and ARCA deputy chair Chris Lucas said the gas reforms could decide Jacinta Allan’s political fate.

“The next election will, in my view, be a referendum on these gas bans and our rights as citizens to choose what we feel is best for our homes and businesses,” he said.

“These latest proposed bans are a serious threat to the viability of thousands of workers and businesses. I support our association in calling for a statewide shutdown of our businesses to try and highlight our concerns with voters.”

More than 300,000 people are employed in around 26,000 restaurants, cafes, takeaway venues, and pubs across Victoria.

Chris Lucas says the gas reforms could decide Jacinta Allan’s political fate. Picture: Jason Edwards

Nik Pouloupatis, who owns South Yarra restaurant Astoria Bar Ke Grill, said the gas ban plan would place unnecessary strain on small business owners.

“The margins are extremely tight … so to throw something like this in the mix makes it difficult,” he said.

Mr Pouloupatis said using electric equipment rather than gas in professional kitchens would be difficult given the traditional methods of cooking used by many chefs.

“We’ve been cooking with gas for so long that a lot of cuisines are heavily reliant on that, and probably won’t achieve the same flavours cooking over induction,” he said.

A Victorian government spokesperson said: “We consulted with industry, including the hospitality sector on these changes and our reforms are supported by the sector’s largest representative body the Australian Hotel Association. The Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association – who are mainly based in NSW – did not make a submission to the Building Electrification RIS consultation.”