The NSW State Government has announced further measures supporting hospitality, with greater easing of restrictions on patron numbers ahead and announcement of 1,000 ‘Great Southern Nights’ music events.
Over the weekend Premier Berejiklian told media the 50-person limit on venues will be lifted from 1 July, although the four-square-metres per patron rule will still apply.
This followed word of the new events initiative to boost live music, which will see 1,000 COVID-safe gigs take place in Sydney and regional venues in November.
They will feature headline artists including the likes of Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins and The Veronicas.
Local pubs are where many of Australia’s great acts began, and AHA NSW CEO John Whelan welcomes the move, which couldn’t come at a better time for all involved.
“It’s a return to the glory days’ of the NSW live music pub scene in the 70s & 80s,” he says.
“Pubs with live music have been hit particularly hard by Covid 19. Many regional pubs have also had to battle drought and bushfires.
“The NSW Government and Minister Stuart Ayres are to be congratulated for this exciting live music initiative.”
Delivered in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), Great Southern Nights events will be managed in line with Government health advice on physical distancing and venue capacity.
“I encourage AHA NSW members, from the city to the bush, to get involved and register their interest.”
The events announcement follows research last week by the Association finding a looming need for greater support, with government stimulus continuing to be relied upon by reopened pubs.
The survey asked the question: In the first week of the lifted restrictions, what turnover did your hotel/hotel group achieve compared to the same week last year?
The responses, coming from members operating over 300 pubs in the state, found a 45 per cent decline in turnover compared with the same corresponding period last year.
Questioning further as to what percentage of staff would need to be laid off or have their hours reduced if the JobKeeper scheme were to finish under the current trading restrictions, respondents reported 44 per cent of staff would be affected.
Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, 75,000 people were employed in NSW hotels. This number dropped to around 4,500 during the shutdown, with around 44,000 returning to employment since 1 June, meaning the 44 per cent cited amounts to approximately 21,500 people.
“After complete closure it’s great to be partially open, but the reality is hotels have suffered a 45% decline in turnover – and many hotels having been hit even harder than this,” laments Whelan.
“If hotels can’t trade, they can’t employ staff. The last thing we want to see is the huge lines at Centrelink again when JobKeeper ends.
“The focus needs to be on getting people back to work and have businesses trading again as quickly and as safely as possible.”