Coronavirus: hospitality dissent gagged as beaches unmask

Management at Melbourne’s government-owned tourist attraction Federation Square has told hospitality businesses they cannot display ‘Unlock Hospitality’ posters.

Melbourne police check social-distancing rules at the St Kilda foreshore on Sunday, above; while the crowds flocked to Bondi Beach in Sydney, below. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

Management at Melbourne’s government-owned tourist attraction Federation Square has told hospitality businesses they cannot display “Unlock Hospitality” posters in their windows because the move could “confuse” the public.

The Pink posters are part of an industry push to encourage the Andrews government to reopen hospitality businesses more rapidly than planned amid coronavirus restrictions, with hundreds of businesses across Melbourne displaying the posters in their windows.

The crackdown comes after hundreds of maskless revellers flocked to the St Kilda foreshore in violation of coronavirus restrictions on Friday. Hundreds more crowded on to beaches amid warmer weather on Saturday, prompting Premier Daniel Andrews to warn Victorians not to do “anything silly or selfish” that could spread the virus.

The situation was in contrast to NSW which has experienced nine consecutive days with no locally acquired coronavirus cases, with crowds flocking to Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

In Melbourne, Federation Square restaurant Taxi Kitchen and bar Transit have been told they can’t participate in the Unlock Hospitality campaign, sparking pushback from the movement.

“We have communicated important messages about COVID safety throughout the pandemic and we have asked our partners to not post messages that may confuse visitors and passers-by,” Federation Square chief executive Xavier Csar said in a statement when asked why the posters had been banned.

Crowds of beachgoers are seen at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

“We are working with our food and beverage partners to support them in reopening in line with Victoria’s road map, including pursuing ways for them to make the most of Fed Square’s open spaces for outdoor dining.”

Unlock Hospitality campaigner and restaurant owner Paul Dimattina said there was “no confusion” about his group’s “#ITSTIME” movement.

“We are ready to open and the state government is being ignorant of our voices and the community,” he said.

“Everyone wants to start wining and dining again. People no longer want to be locked up by our dictator Premier.”

Mr Dimattina said Federation Square business owners had been reluctant to speak out about the poster ban from concern they could be punished by centre management. Federation square has provided rent relief to all its tenants for the duration of 2020.

Under the Andrews government’s reopening plans, Melbourne restaurants — now takeaway and delivery only — will be able to open for predominantly outdoor service from October 19, subject to density limits and a limit of 10 people per group.

This can take place only if Melbourne reaches a 14-day daily average of fewer than five cases, and has no more than five cases with an unknown source in the preceding fortnight, which begins on Tuesday.

Sunday’s 14-day daily average for metropolitan Melbourne was 11.9, but with 12 new cases on Sunday, Victoria’s number of active cases was steady from Saturday to Sunday at 241 — the first time the number has not fallen since August 15.

For the fortnight to September 1, there have been 13 unknown source cases, with Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton issuing a warning to the three postcodes most recently identified as having mystery cases, namely: 3145, which covers Caulfield East and Malvern East in Melbourne’s southeast; 3023, covering Burnside, Cairnlea, Caroline Springs, Deer Park and Ravenhall in Melbourne’s west; and 3091, covering Yarrambat, on Melbourne‘s north-northeastern fringes.

For hospitality businesses to reopen to up to 20 indoor and 50 outdoor patrons under the road map, there must be no new cases statewide for 14 days.