Lockout laws will force pubs to cut hours
The hotel industry is bracing itself for the impact of lockout laws in Queensland.
It claims thousands of hours will be lost as a result of the changes.
According to the Courier Mail, the two major pub chains, owned by supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles, plan big reductions in staff hours with the laws starting tomorrow.
Because these chains dominate the Queensland market, industry figures are saying it could see people working 20,000 fewer hours per month.
The changes are also likely to hit smaller operators particularly venues in nightclub zones.
Under the current rules, they are allowed to serve alcohol after 3am.
The new laws coming in after midnight tomorrow will force country and suburban pubs to call last drinks at 2am. Venues in designated safe (late) night precincts such as Fortitude Valley and Cairns CBD will be allowed to serve alcohol until 3am.
Mr David Curry, a spokesman for Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (the Woolworths-owned chain) said the changes will see hospitality staff working fewer hours. They also won’t have as many job opportunities because of the laws.
There is no doubt this legislation will reduce employment in our hotels,” Mr Curry told the Courier Mail.
Similarly, Queensland Hotels Association chief executive Justin O’Connor claimed that the new laws would force pub and club owners to cut tens of thousands of staff hours each month.
“A lot of the people that are going to be affected are those who do not have a lot of money left over at the end of the week,” Mr O’Connor told the Courier Mail.
Trent Meade, owner/operator of the Met and GPO nightclubs in the Valley, told the newspaper that he had already told 100 staff to expect fewer hours from this weekend.
However, the government claims that similar measures in Newcastle saw a 45 per cent increase in the number of licensed venues around its CBD.
by Leon Gettler, June 30th 2016
