A leading body for hospitality businesses has urged the state government to change trading laws that force venues to shut or restrict service during public holidays.
The Queensland Hotels Association stated that hundreds of thousands of visitors and locals would be unable to access venues again this Easter due to “outdated rules that dictate how, when and where they can celebrate public holidays”.
The group said a “complicated patchwork” of liquor licensing and trading laws would see pubs, cafes, restaurants, resorts and major entertainment precincts either close their doors or restrict their services over the busy Easter long weekend and again on ANZAC Day.
QHA CEO Bernie Hogan said patrons, visitors and industry operators were united in their pleas to reform regulations.
“We’ve got six public holidays in the space of a month and an unworkable assortment of restrictions governing them all,” he said.
“Take Good Friday. You have visitors coming to Queensland in droves, checking into hotels to enjoy a few days in a state famed for its hospitality but they can’t even order a cocktail by the pool. It’s not a great way to start your long weekend.
“On ANZAC Day, major precincts such as Howard Smith Wharves can’t serve people until 1pm, even if they’ve been there since daybreak for a Dawn Service.”
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The QHA called on the state government to “act now to bring Queensland into step with the rest of the country”.
“Queensland’s trading restrictions haven’t been properly reviewed since they were introduced in 1992 and this is holding the state back,” Mr Hogan said.
“All we’re asking is to allow venue operators to trade as they normally would any other day of the year. We’re not arguing about penalty rates – people working on public holidays should be paid accordingly – but venues need to be open long enough and able to trade freely so that operators have a chance to make a dollar.
“Our patrons tell us constantly that they want us to open on public holidays. We need them to tell their local MPs too because they are the ones with the power to change the laws and make that happen.
“We’re ready, willing and able to serve our customers – we just need to be allowed to do so.”
