Proof BBQ and Booze owner Ryan Lane comments on Queensland's December 17 restriction change

The owner of a popular restaurant in Toowoomba says his business has copped criticism for agreeing to follow new vaccine mandates next month. He says the public’s anger is misdirected.

In little over a month, a massive change in Covid-19 restrictions will mean fully-vaccinated Toowoomba residents are given unbridled access and entry to pubs, bars, restaurants and other venues, while the unvaccinated minority will go without.

Proof BBQ and Booze owner Ryan Lane said it had been a hard few weeks navigating the conversations around impending new restrictions and freedoms, while dealing with the divided views of the public – from anti-vaxxers who tell them to flout restrictions, to fully-vaccinated residents who have praised them.

📢 Restrictions for people who aren't fully vaccinated Once Queensland reaches its 80% double dose milestone (estimated...

Posted by Queensland Health on Monday, November 8, 2021

On December 17, or when the state hits the 80 per cent double-vaxxed benchmark, anyone aged 16 and older will be unable to enter a variety of venues until they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Mr Lane said a lot of anger had been generated by the changing of restrictions, but the public’s anger was directed at the wrong people.

“We don’t want to do it, but if we have to do it we have to do it,” he said.

“We’re just doing what we’re told.

“It’s not us, it’s the government.”

Come December 17, the onus will be on businesses to make sure all patrons have checked into their venue and have provided proof of vaccination, according to the State Government.

If they don’t, they risk a $6892 fine.

Other businesses have likened the change in restrictions to “segregation” in the community.

Mr Lane said he had been copping comments and messages from passionate residents opposed to the new mandates who had told them to operate under reduced restrictions and let unvaccinated patrons in.

But it’s not that simple.

Owner Ryan Lane of Proof BBQ & Booze to open in Duggan St. Tuesday, July 13, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“Hospitality has been stuck between the general public and the government, and we cop flack from both sides,” Mr Lane said.

“The government wants us to mandate it even though it’s their law, and the general public think it’s ridiculous.

“We want to serve everyone, but we can’t afford the fines from government … People are expecting hospitality venues to take their moral high ground and say ‘you should tell the government to get stuffed’.”

It’s been an overwhelmingly difficult year for hospitality venues across Australia, and with new restrictions will come a new set of challenges for local businesses, according to Mr Lane.

“We’ve copped the sharp end of the stick for the past 18 months, and we’re just trying to survive,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter how much we moan and scream and do petitions.

“The government doesn’t care.

“They’ve got their own plan of what they’re going to do, and nothing we say is going to change that.”