Unvaxxed ban causes anxious stir for businesses

Darling Downs businesses ready themselves for a whole new world as the State Government’s vaccine mandate comes into effect Friday morning.

Christel Ryley, Managing Director of Ryley Jewellery Creations is concerned about new and impening Covid-19 mandates on businesses. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Toowoomba businesses have anxiously welcomed in new restrictions this morning, with unvaccinated residents banned from public activities and most shopping opportunities.

The Queensland Government announced there would be no capacity restrictions on businesses for fully vaccinated residents, however many businesses will have to turn away unvaccinated locals.

“If the Government wanted to implement (these mandates), that is their position,” Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Todd Rohl said.

“But imposing all these rules and getting the business owners themselves to implement them hasn’t been fair on the business community.

“Some are very concerned and have high anxiety about their role imposed on them by the Government implementing these new laws. It’s really challenging.”

Mr Rohl said a minority of the region had been abusive to local businesses prior to the implementation of the new Covid-19 restrictions.

“We know that people have been abusive online and abusive in the shops prior to today, and the chamber is concerned about the pressure being placed solely on the shoulders of businesses starting (today),” he said.

Copper Bench owner Tenzin Norbu said while many customers supported the new rules, anti-vax residents had made themselves known to the business.

“I did get a few protesters come through on the weekend, and they were a little bit abrupt,” he said.

“We have Covid signage at the shop front … I just keep losing them.

“I caught one (of the protesters), but I couldn’t catch up because I was behind the counter.

“I’m just grateful that we’re surviving, and that’s all because of our customers.”

Mr Norbu said the business was looking at options to continue serving those who were unvaccinated, which he said was many regular customers.

“I’ve been talking to our customers, especially the non-vaccinated ones, and I was surprised that we had a lot of them,” he said.

“I’ve known them for years, and thankfully they are very understanding and have supported us really well.

“Many have said they will be back when they can.”

Ryley Jewellery Creations managing director Christel Ryley said she had concerns with the possibility of the store coming into contact with a confirmed case.

According to the Queensland Government website, anyone in a business exposed to Covid-19 or a close contact to Covid-19, despite being vaccinated, is required to quarantine for seven days.

“For us and many other small businesses in the region that have staff in close proximity to each other, if they have a confirmed case, that could potentially shut down an entire business for a minimum seven days, and that can have a massive implication on a business,” Ms Ryley said.

“I think the Government needs to be very clear about what support is going to be in place for small businesses in particular that are going to have ongoing exposure to Covid- 19.

“Governments on a state and federal level have been encouraging vaccinations to get our lives back to as normal as possible, and I don’t see how this is going to be normal.”

Mr Rohl reminded locals to support and respect businesses during this transition.

“If they don’t follow the law, they may be out of business, so it's a tricky situation,” he said. “I expect given the nature of the Toowoomba community that everyone will be kind and respectful.”