HSA February 2021

From the General Manager
IAN HORNE – AHA|SA GENERAL MANAGER
Independent Report Urges Consultation to
Avoid ‘Scorched Earth’ Response to COVID-19
The SA Centre for Economic Studies based at the University of
Adelaide has revealed the full extent of the damage done to the
hotel industry and its 27,000 employees as the result of State
Government’s three-day COVID-19 lockdown in November last
year.
The AHA|SA commissioned the report to gain impartial facts and
precise figures about the consequences of the lockdowns.
Critically, it makes four key recommendations, the first of which
is that government consultation with the industry prior to any
further lockdowns “would provide superior outcomes for all”.
“In future cases of COVID-19 or other pandemic outbreaks,
consultation with the South Australian hotel industry can help
meet the SA Government’s desired suppression outcomes
while likely reducing the risks of adverse mental health, societal,
employment, business and economic outcomes that have
resulted from the November lockdown,” it states.
The report was prepared by Assoc. Professor Michael O’Neil,
Executive Director of the SA Centre for Economic Studies
(SACES) and economist Darryl Gobbett, Visiting Research Fellow
at SACES.
It notes that the hotel industry was “heavily adversely impacted”
during the three-day closure, including the following:
• 20,000 hotel staff were put out of work
• Food and beverage wastage of up to $10 million, much of
which could have been avoided.
• Permanent workers were the hardest hit, with 80% stood
down. 50% of casual workers also found themselves without
any shifts.
• “Substantial impact” on suppliers to the industry.
The report is entitled Impacts of COVID-19 Lockdown: A Case
Study of the South Australian Hotel Industry November 2020.
The truth is that 27,000 people have a stake in the management
of COVID-19 cases and the threat of lockdowns and they don’t
want a repeat of 2020. From the hotel worker who suddenly can’t
pay their rent to the pub owner throwing fresh food into the bin,
the economic and mental toll is almost overwhelming.
For example, the value of food and drink that had to be disposed
of could have fed up to 256,000 South Australians during the
entire three-day lockdown.
SACES has revealed that much of this waste could have been
avoided if the industry had been consulted in advance.
The AHA|SA would welcome the opportunity to be an active part
of the solution. We don’t have to have a replay of 2020’s scorched
earth policies.
It’s time to work together for the collective benefit of the State
and the AHA|SA wants to be part of the solution.
ONGOING DAMAGE
The SA Centre for Economic Studies report highlights the fact
that economic and mental health damage continued after the
initial three days, as “severe restrictions remained in place”.
“The resulting cancellations or disruptions to planned functions;
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