Coronavirus: Hair salon seeks compensation for ‘catastrophic’ loss

Salon owner Michael Aktunch had a front-row seat to Victoria’s bungled hotel quarantine program and wants compensation for the devastating impact on his business.

Michael Aktunch in his salon in Melbourne’s Stamford Plaza, one of the hotels at the centre of the virus outbreak. Picture: Aaron Francis

The owner of an iconic Melbourne hair salon is seeking financial compensation over the Victorian government’s bungled hotel quarantine program, claiming the fallout for his business has been “catastrophic”.

Over the past 30 years, Wentworth Hair, situated at the so-called “Paris-end” of Collins Street, has built a loyal following of socialites, top silks, industry captains and politicians.

Yet a decision in late March by the government to use the Stamford Plaza, where the salon is based, to quarantine returned travellers in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus has seen them desert it in droves.

Remarkably, the salon, which is only accessible through the hotel lobby, was able to continue trading until the recent stage four restrictions.

“We had clients having to walk straight past where the guests were exercising,” said owner Michael Aktunch.

“The guards weren’t social distancing, they would huddle together, share lifts and were using the hotel and salon staff bathroom until I put a stop to it.

“People started cancelling appointments and I don‘t blame them. Longstanding clients are informing us that they will no longer return while we are operating within the hotel.”

Mr Aktunch said initially he was advised that the hotel guests were unlikely to have COVID-19 as they had been quarantined at their international locations before their flights home.

So when he received a phone call from hotel management on June 17 advising a security contractor had tested positive for the virus, he was concerned. Over the following weeks, as the number of cases surged past 40, his concern turned to anger.

It has emerged that 99 per cent of Victoria’s second wave cases can be traced back to the hotel quarantine program, which is the subject of an independent inquiry.

“My staff and I got tested and thankfully, following negative results, we were permitted to return to work,” Mr Aktunch said. “But there was no direct formal notification from the health department.”

Mr Aktunch sought leave to appear before the inquiry but was denied on the grounds he “does not have a ‘direct or special interest’ in the subject”.

He is now exploring his legal options for compensation.