Pubs under severe scrutiny

Last Friday, images of long queues outside The Golden Sheaf in Double Bay in Sydney's east, were shared on the internet. The pub was fined $5000 for this breach of restrictions.

On Monday, NSW Police announced they had issued a 72-hour shutdown order for the Lake Jindabyne Hotel's bistro in the Snowy Mountains. The bistro had already been given three formal warnings since May for breaching the Liquor Act. According to police, further infringement action is likely. The hotel declined to comment.

Police Minister David Elliott warned NSW hospitality industry to obey the public health orders or risk having tougher restrictions imposed. 

"I'm appealing to all licensees, all pubs, to learn from this mistake and see what's going on in Victoria. If they are under any illusion – under any illusion whatsoever – that we are through this in NSW, they are sadly mistaken," Mr Elliott said. 

"We don't want to see the hospitality industry close down again and go into lock down again, because it may not survive." 

Mr Elliott said patrons also needed to take responsibility for abiding by the public health orders.