Coronavirus: PM reveals first steps in plan to reopen pubs and restaurants
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed he is working with industry representatives to get pubs and restaurants back open as coronavirus pandemic restrictions begin to ease.
Pubs have been closed for several weeks as part of the coronavirus shutdown around the country.
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When asked what a “COVID-safe” pub might look like, Mr Morrison said on Tuesday there is not yet a “clear set of rules”, but the government has been in touch with the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and the Restaurant and Catering Association.
“All industry groups, all businesses, doesn't matter as Christian (Porter, Attorney-General) said whether you are an abattoir or a news agent you should be thinking about the sorts of things that you can satisfy yourself about in terms of having a COVIDSafe environment, as well as those who come in and out of your shop, your patrons to ensure that is sustainable,” Mr Morrison told reporters on Tuesday.
He added the last thing businesses want is a “sawtooth”.
“Which means you are open, you shut, you open, you shut, that is not good for business,” he said.
“There needs to be the certainty to keep moving forward all the time. So to have that you need to have these things in place.”
Mr Morrison said advice from the AHA and the Restaurant and Caterers will go off to the medical expert panel.
“It will be part of the process we will work through to get back to a position when pubs and clubs, and restaurants or cafes in the future can be open,” he said.
National Cabinet will meet again on Friday to discuss the easing of restrictions.
The other curve
Mr Morrison told reporters “thousands of lives” have been saved “but we now need to get one million Australians back to work”.
“That is the curve we need to address,” he said.
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Mr Morrison said the economy is taking a $4 billion hit each week due to the restrictions put in place by COVID-19.
“That cost will continue so long as we have Australians in a position where they are unable to open their businesses and go back to the offices, children unable to go back to school, and the many restrictions in place,” he said.
“That is why the national cabinet has been working very effectively today as we move towards the decisions we need to take on Friday, that will impact on these restrictions in weeks and months that are ahead.”
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