King O’Malley’s Irish pub has been beset with both bad and good reviews after a stoush with mask-refusing protestors brought about its closure over the weekend.
For the past week, a motley crew of protesters known as the Convoy to Canberra have gathered in the nation’s capital, setting up camps and disrupting governmental affairs, spouting disseminated demands ranging from ending vaccination mandates to toppling the government.
In the ACT it is mandatory to wear a mask in hospitality venues if not seated, or eating or drinking. Operators are mandated to ensure patrons comply.
On Saturday members of the Convoy turned up at King O’Malley’s, about dozen of whom were not wearing masks, citing amongst other things a “legal constitutional exemption” from wearing one.
Governments dictate a person is not required to wear a mask if they “have an illness, condition or disability that makes wearing a mask unsuitable”.
In these instances, the person is required to carry either a medical certificate or letter signed by a registered health practitioner, or a statutory declaration, outlining the disability, illness, or condition. People wearing traditional or religious garments are not exempt and must still wear a fitted face mask in the given circumstances.
Peter Barclay, managing director of the pub, said many of the young staff, mostly university students, felt uncomfortable serving the unmasked Convoy members, which for him was the “bottom line”.
The business refused service to the unmasked patrons, asked them to leave and closed early.
ACT Police report responding to a request for assistance at 4.30pm Saturday, hearing some patrons were refusing mask-wearing requirements. Officers arrived and the patrons left shortly before 5pm, but some were reluctant and the venue was not cleared until 7pm.
The pub usually closes at midnight or later on a Saturday, and remained closed on Sunday to let everyone ‘cool off’.
Members of the Convoy to Canberra retaliated by leaving one-star reviews, in the hope of tarnishing its online reputation, claiming discrimination and accusing the operators of being “un-Australian”.
A similar fate befell a Queanbeyan towing business that towed cars belonging to the group from a public site, the company forced to shut down its website and take its phone number offline after being flooded with negative reviews and abusive calls.
But Canberrans have come to the aid of their King, praising the decision to shun business and protect staff and patrons, and leaving glowing five-star reviews.
”Keeping your community safe in the face of belligerence and aggression isn’t easy, good on you,” read one.
Graham Catt, CEO of the Canberra Business Chamber, is on guard for protesters impacting local businesses, who he says have worked so hard to keep people safe and try to remain viable.
“Businesses, especially hospitality venues and other venues, are already dealing with a whole range of issues, including staff quarantine and isolation.”
