HSA November 21

Beyond the obvious frustration for
industry that the goalposts have
been moved, my major concern is it
smacks of a public service reluctant
to lose control of our business.
Do they envisage a day where they
won’t have their fingers in our lives?
Over the next few weeks, the
interstate experience will give us
a preview of what our lives will
look like beyond the 90% target. It
is critical we return to having only
one public service body - logically
Consumer and Business Services
- deciding limits and associated
trading conditions. History says SA
Health has rarely empathised with
the plight of our members and our
staff since March 2020.
On November 1, it was frightening
to read The Advertiser’s report of the
Chief Health Officer suggesting that
restrictions, including mask wearing,
would need to remain in place for
300 days after November 23.
For too long now we have been
strangled by health red tape and
regulations for the greater good
of our COVID-19 response. We
understood and accepted this.
Equally, we have every right to
believe those days will very soon
disappear.
Remember when we were “all in
this together”?
MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN
You could not be blamed for feeling
COVID-19 is the only health issue
requiring attention.
For too many in our industry, the
20-month white knuckle ride
around lockdowns and restrictions
has taken its toll on our people’s
mental health.
This is coupled with the fact for
almost two years we have been
telling customers what they can
and cannot do, whilst patiently
explaining to patrons that we don’t
make the rules. Yet the fact we
are obliged to enforce them has
resulted in operators and staff
enduring sustained abuse as we
have been forced to become the
frontline “Covid cops” on the beat.
The exhausting prospect of
enforcing vaccine passports
to battle fatigued customers
heightens those concerns.
Industry mental health issues now
sit squarely alongside economic
considerations at the top of the
AHA|SA agenda.
This is why we have partnered
with EML to contribute $110,000
towards tailored, industry-specific
mental health programmes. During
the year we have also supported a
range of community programmes
with a focus on mental health.
Last month, the AHA|SA - through
members contributions to the
Independent Gaming Corporation -
pledged $10,000 to Erin and Soda’s
Mental Health awareness month in
conjunction with the Breakthrough
Foundation. This follows a similar
commitment to Will and Dave’s
Undies Drive on 5AA in July,
supporting Katherine House and
the Hutt Street Centre.
We do understand there will be
a need to continue that support
into 2022.
TWO SPEED HOTEL ECONOMY
We must remain mindful that
COVID-19 has produced a two
speed hotel economy and it
impacts people in different ways.
Many of our CDB venues,
particularly our accommodation
hotels, are in real trouble, along
with our members who don’t enjoy
the benefit of significant gaming or
retail revenue.
For the second consecutive year
it was impossible to judge the
prestigious best live music venue at
our recent Awards for Excellence.
Our venues are the natural home
of live music and getting the
musicians, technicians and of
course our venues back on their
feet is a priority.
Those most impacted by the
COVID-19 regulations are deserving
of the greatest consideration.
They have been left behind with
minimal Government support after
JobKeeper finished.
It need not be restricted to
handouts. Other countries such as
England, Japan and Norway have
assisted on-premise venues with
a cut in beer excise. The AHA|SA
has long agitated this federal tax
is far too high. We are currently the
fourth highest beer taxed country
in the world, and will rise to third in
2023, overtaking Japan. Norway is
the highest, but after they reduced
their beer tax by 10%, the gap is
narrowing. Last week, Great Britain
reacted to the COVID-19 plight of
pubs by offering the biggest tax
cut for beer in 50 years, in what the
Chancellor described as ‘a long term
investment in British pubs’.
A reduction in our crippling beer tax
would assist COVID-19 struggling
pubs and boost employment. Any
such announcement would go down
very well with the punters on the eve
of a Federal election.
CONGRATULATIONS
Our 2021 Awards for Excellence was
a sensational night. Congratulations
to our joint winners for Best Overall
Hotel, the Bridgeport and Marion
Hotels. The Bridgeport is a tribute
to the vision and investment by Ian
Tregoning and Graham Hobbs and
a real boost for our regions. As a
back-to-back winner of Best Overall
Hotel, the Marion is the reward for a
stunning rejuvenation by the Hurley
family and a wonderful addition
to the hospitality landscape of the
southern suburbs.
Best of luck to all our winners in
next year’s National Awards.
David Basheer, AHA|SA President
Back to Contents W W W . A H A S A . A S N . A U | Hotel SA | 5