The Australian Hotels Association’s SA branch wants the state’s pubs open again before the end of the month.
South Australia has gone 13 days without a new COVID-19 case, with just five people in the state still infected.
AHA SA chief Ian Horne has called for a loosening of restrictions on trading. He cautioned that reverting to initial distancing rules, which required four square metres for every patron, would render most businesses unviable.
“Ourselves, the clubs and the restaurant associations all think that [proposal] is really problematic because it greatly disadvantages smaller venues, country venues, cafes and things like that,” he told ABC News.
Horne predicted only about 25% of venues would be in a position to reopen under those conditions, while if restrictions were loosened the number could rise to 75%.
“With all the safety protocols in place … we’re advocating a one in two [square metre rule],” he said.
Horne has suggested the last week of May as a date for the industry and Government to work towards to get pubs open, as venues need a period of notice to get ready, “and that’s talking about a minimum of two weeks”.
“The fridges are empty, the bars are empty, there are no kegs, the air conditioning’s been turned off and, in many cases, refrigeration’s been decommissioned,” he explained.
Restaurant and Catering chief executive Wes Lambert has been working with SA Premier Steven Marshall and other state leaders on options for hospitality businesses to reopen.
Restaurant and Catering has submitted a suite of “low-cost, practical” guidelines to national Cabinet and is hoping for feedback after it meets again on Friday.
The blueprint includes 1.5 metre distancing between tables, social distancing in reception areas, and customers giving their name and number to staff if they haven’t signed up to the Federal Government’s COVIDSafe app.
There would also be disposable or plastic menus, no condiments, no bar service and mandatory training for the sector.
Pictured main: Filling growlers at the Duke of Brunswick in Adelaide
