Victorian pub says it will let unvaccinated in once restrictions ease
A Victorian pub says it is ready to let unvaccinated through its doors once restrictions ease, unless this one thing happens.
Owners of a well-known regional Victoria pub say they are not “anti-vax” for deciding to let in unvaccinated patrons once restrictions ease.
However, the Grand Hotel Healesville says if it becomes mandatory to enter a business with a passport, it will have no choice but to follow the law.
A post from the pub went viral this week when the owners explained that would allow all people, regardless of their Covid vaccine status, into the pub.
“Jab or no jab, everyone is welcome at the Grand Hotel Healesville,” the update read.
The post received thousands of likes and comments, with some congratulating the pub for “being on the right side of history”.
“Good on you guys. It’s such a delight to see not all are discriminating those who chose not to have a jab. I'll absolutely be there to support your amazing business,” one Facebook user wrote.
“Thank you for supporting all and not creating division,” another user posted. You are going to be a very busy pub.”
But the post wasn’t received well by others.
“This is a pub I definitely won’t visit,” a user commented.
“Your choice mate, but here’s one little duck that won’t be stopping at your place, and I’m tipping you’ll change your mind by December,” another posted.
The pub followed up with another post that said it would not discriminate against anyone.
“We are not anti-vaxxers or non-covid believers. We believe in people making the right choice for them and we will not discriminate those, for whatever reason, who choose not to get the jab,” it posted.
“If, however, the law changes and it becomes mandatory to enter a business with a passport, then we will have no choice and will abide by the law.”
It comes after Premier Daniel Andrews highlighted tough new measures for the unvaccinated, who could be “locked out” of venues and events once the state reaches its targets for reopening.
The state has forecast most freedoms for the community will return once it reaches a 70-80 per cent vaccination target.
Mr Andrews said once the target was reached, the notion of a lockdown of the whole community would be rare.
“What will become a bigger part of our response is a lockout of many venues for those who are not vaccinated,” he said.
“I am not going to lock the whole state down to protect people who would not protect themselves. If you are not vaccinated ... the chances of you booking a ticket at a sporting event, going to a pub will be very limited.”
Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy said national cabinet should set the rule for whether vaccines should be mandatory for people entering pubs.
“It would be very silly to have a different situation in South Australia to Tasmania to Victoria to NSW,” he said.
“I don’t oppose the concept of saying you need to be vaccinated.
“If we give people a reason and hope as to why they should do it, like New South Wales is, there may be more people who will hurry up and do it very quickly.”
Mr Guy dubbed the government’s plan to ease restrictions for regional Victorian business “completely unviable”, saying the opposition would release its plan to get hospitality back on its feet in coming days.
Speaking to ABC Melbourne following the attention, publican Lisa McKay said she made the decision to speak out after concern from customers worried they would not be allowed into her pub due to the restrictions.
“I had probably about five people come through the bottle shop that day that asked what we were going to do, whether we’re going to allow unvaccinated people into the pub,” she told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“It got me pretty upset thinking that people think that’s what’s going to happen.”
Ms McKay said she wanted to take a stand against discrimination based on someone’s vaccination status.
“I don’t see why we should be separated and not be able to have a beer together,” she said.
“I think that everybody should be welcome.”
rhiannon.tuffield@news.com.au