Cairns venues react to new Covid vaccine rules for Qld pubs, cafes, restaurants

Far North tourism leaders have welcomed new regulations banning unvaccinated people from a host of Queensland venues - but the reaction has been mixed from Cairns’ pubs and cafes. HAVE YOUR SAY

FAR North tourism leaders have welcomed new regulations banning unvaccinated people from a host of Queensland venues - but the reaction has been mixed from Cairns’ pubs and cafes.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed that from December 17, or earlier if Queensland hits its 80 per cent vaccination target, unvaccinated people will be banned from many venues.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chairman Ken Chapman said the tourism industry had been asking for certainty around vaccination requirements and it had been delivered.

“It gives businesses and travellers certainty around travel and the safety of the destination and that’s what we need to get back in business,” he said.

The Skyrail rainforest cableway in Cairns. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Chief executive Mark Olsen said the new rules would be a game changer in the Far North.

“It is exactly what is needed to get borders open and visitors returning to destinations like Tropical North Queensland that have been locked out of their major customer bases for almost two years,” he said.

“This certainty will set Tropical North Queensland on the path to reach the 80% vaccination rate by December 17 and 90% in early 2022 to restart the international tourism sector.

“Businesses will need some assistance to manage the transition with their staff and we have to accept some staff will not want to be vaccinated which could exacerbate predicted workforce shortages.”

However, opinions are divided amongst Cairns pubs and cafes.

At the Stratford Deli Cafe + Catering, proprietor Gail Grossman said the past two and half had been the toughest of the 21 years she’s been in business located on Kamerunga Rd.

Ms Grossman said it would be “business as usual” for her and the team of 20 once the new policies started.

Queensland's new eased restrictions for fully vaccinated people. SOURCE: Annastacia Palaszczuk

“It sounds as though nothing much will change for us,” she said.

“We ask everyone to sign in, almost all our staff are vaccinated and we have had fantastic local support; our customers have been sensational.”

However, Ms Grossman said she wanted to hear how the finer details of the Premier’s announcement, including how the rules would be policed.

For Edge Hill cafe owner Kamal Singh, the past two years have been “very tough” and he said small businesses needed all the customers they could get through the door.

Mr Singh said the pandemic had put a huge downer on trade on his Collins Avenue cafe Tank 64.

He said he was not sure whether the new regulations banning unvaccinated people from most venues were a good move.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks during a press conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“We already don’t have enough trade, why would I turn customers away?” he said.

“Cairns has been pretty lucky regarding Covid but many businesses have been really struggling.

“I have worked every day for the last two years. I just want more trade.”

The Jack general manager Jay Gwyn said the new rules would result in chaos.

“It is going to cause havoc, a lot people are anti-vaxxers and a lot of people don’t even like signing in, we have security at night on that.

“It knew it was coming, it was just a matter of time, it is not going to be fun for staff to enforce that rule.

“We are in our peak Christmas season with functions every Friday and Saturday night so we’ll lose business straight away, people won’t be able to attend their own Christmas party – I can see money walking out the door.

“I will have to talk to staff, if I can’t get them vaccinated in time, I can’t open the pub – fingers crossed I can convince them, but I can’t make them do something they don’t want to.”

He questioned if the rules applied to accommodation as The Jack has a backpacker hostel.

“You can’t kick people out on the street, that is a big deal, but if you are liable to get fined, well you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” Mr Gywn said.

The Woolshed and The Cotton Club owner Dominic Davies said venues had been given “fair notice”.

Owner of the Woolshed Dominic Davies. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“The state is sitting at 79.6 per cent first vaccination rate and there’s a three-week lag between the first and second vaccination so it would appear in three weeks’ time we are going to hit 80 per cent double vaccination,” Mr Davies said.

“So the Premier has pretty much set it out and said this is where it is at, if want to go to the pub or work in a pub get vaccinated today.

“It is what it is, we have all been given fair notice,” Mr Davies said.

He said policing who was fully vaccinated would not be a problem at his venues.

“Policing is not of great concern in a late night venue, people have to get their ID scanned anyway, and they will have to show evidence of their MyGov vaccination confirmation,” Mr Davies said.

“It will add another layer of complexity for restaurants and public bars,” he said.

“But it is part of opening up the economy.”

The mass vaccination hub set up in the Cairns Convention Centre. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns Chamber of Commerce CEO Patricia O’Neill said the new rules placed a “huge amount” of responsibility on Far North businessowners.

“Of course, we are strongly encouraging our members to encourage their staff to get vaccinated,” she said

“But the reality is that if some workers choose not to get the jab, it will be the business owners who are left carrying thecan and potentially having to let some of their best staff go, which obviously impacts the business and the bottom line.”

“We are still in discussions with the government in relation to how our members can best handle these situations as they arise,minimising negative impacts on both businesses and staff.”

Originally published as Cairns venues react to new Covid vaccine rules for Qld pubs, cafes, restaurants