NightQuarter shut down over alleged multiple breaches of Covid-19 rules

The furious operators of a Sunshine Coast live music venue have blasted the Queensland Government after it was shut down under Covid-19 rules. But the state’s top doctor has hit back, saying there had been ‘several complaints’. 

A major Queensland live music venue has been rocked after being raided and ordered by the State Government to shut down over alleged ‘multiple breaches’ of COVID-19 rules.

Sunshine Coast venue NightQuarter, recently awarded Best Regional Venue at the 2021 Queensland Music Awards had its live music space shut down overnight by the Sunshine Coast Public Health Unit.

Health officers and police raided the venue on Friday night and ordered the closure ahead of a planned concert by popular Aussie band San Cisco on Saturday night, and rock legend Daryl Braithwaite on Sunday.

It followed complaints about alleged Covid-19 breaches at a Spacey Jane concert last weekend.

The Sunshine Coast is at the centre of Queensland’s latest Covid scare after a Victorian couple tested positive while visiting Caloundra, after escaping Greater Melbourne’s latest lockdown.

Hundreds of people have been identified as close or casual contacts of the pair.

Queensland has 14 active cases of coronavirus, with none recorded on Saturday.

Queensland Health officers and police raided NightQuarter on Friday night over alleged Covid-19 breaches.

A notice issued to NightQuarter operators Ian Van der Woude and partner Michelle Christoe accused the venue of failing to comply with dance floor density regulations and failing to ensure patrons remained in assigned seats.

It was ordered to close immediately “until the end of the declared public health emergency” or approved controls are put in place.

“The direction was issued without giving the venue the right of reply, with the directive commencing at midday less than 24 hours after the issue of the notice and effectively cancelling a live performance by San Cisco on Saturday,” a furious Mr Van der Woude said.

“This is devastating news for the music industry that has been doing it tough and a dramatic contrast to the love given to major sporting events hosted at government owned stadiums.

“The directive does not relate to the night-market NightQuarter is known for, but only for the concert space within the precinct.

“It was issued in the same week that Queensland hosted the State of Origin with a capacity crowd of 30,000 - bringing extra seats to fill the stadium beyond capacity with an over $8 million dollar taxpayer bill to host the event - and no restrictions on crowd numbers, with crowded bars and walkways where crowds gathered in close proximity.

“NightQuarter provides a vital platform for local and touring musicians to earn an income. At all times NightQuarter has been operating in accordance with its approved Health Plan.

“The venue has clearly communicated to its patrons its Covid safe requirements to attend live music events. In fact, it has gone over and above the requirements seen at other state run public events at Government venues where crowds are seen to dancing and cheering to their heroes.

NightQuarter Owners Ian Van der Woude and Michelle Christoe.

“It is disappointing and heartbreaking for the music industry to see such blatant double standards at play when their livelihoods are at stake

“We feel sorry for the many musicians who are unable to get gigs and perform to crowds due to these double standards.”

Mr Van der Woude has been a vocal critic of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions on live venues.

But Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young hit back, accusing NightQuarter of “repeated breaches” of health directions.

“The risk of COVID-19 transmission in confined spaces such as stage and dance areas is far greater than the risk at open-air venues like sporting stadiums, which are also required to comply with public health directions,” Dr Young said in a statement.

“We have worked closely with the operators of NightQuarter for several months in an attempt to help them continue operating in accordance with the Queensland Public Health Directions.

“However, there have been repeated breaches of these directions and several complaints by members of the community in relation to occupant density and physical distancing requirements during events.

“To ensure the safety of their patrons and the broader community, there was no choice but to issue a Public Health Order requiring the main stage area to close.

“The closure is effective until the end of the declared public health emergency or such a time additional controls, approved by Queensland Health, have been implemented to reduce the public health risk.

“The vast majority of businesses across the state have been excellent in complying with the directions we have in place – in fact some have gone above and beyond – and I thank them for keeping their communities safe.”

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young in Brisbane this week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Opposition frontbencher and Sunshine Coast MP Jarod Bleijie said Mr Van der Woude and Ms Christoe were being “deliberately targeted” by Queensland Health for standing up for the live music industry.

“They have continually pointed out the Palaszczuk Government’s hypocrisy over Covid-19 rules and now they are reaping the revenge - it’s disgusting,” he said.

“The Government has closed down a small business overnight and now the livelihoods of musicians and crew are in jeopardy and the local economy is going to suffer.”

Mr Bleijie said he had seen videos of the alleged breaches at NightQuarter “and it’s absolute rubbish”.

“It’s an indoor/outdoor venue with plenty of fresh air and they’ve done everything required of them,” he said.

“It’s only a 1000-seat venue and it (the Spacey Jane concert) was a ticketed event where everyone was checked in and contact tracing is easy.

“A few kids got up out of their seats to dance and that’s what they’ve been pinged on.”

Mr Bleijie said it was a cruel slap in the face for NightQuarter after Townsville Stadium hosted an above-capacity crowd of 30,000 people for Wednesday night’s State of Origin.

“The Premier sits in her nice little corporate box in Townsville while football freely fans stand up and cheer and now we have her government punishing a small business,” he said.

“(Health Minister) Yvette D’Ath needs to travel to the Sunshine Coast, stand in front of NightQuarter and over-rule her heavy-handed health bureaucrats.”

Originally published as NightQuarter shut down over alleged multiple breaches of Covid-19 rules