❓ The Minister for Small Business outlines the McGowan government's support for the hospitality industry in safely returning to business, including a free COVID hygiene training course and COVID safety plans for venues.
AnsweredQoN 265Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
265. Ms E. HAMILTON to the Minister for Small Business:
I refer to the impact of COVID-19
on WA's hospitality industry.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the McGowan government is supporting the
industry as it prepares to safely return to business?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the government is helping WA's
hospitality businesses protect both their staff and the public from the virus?
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
265. Ms E. HAMILTON to the Minister for Small Business:
I refer to the impact of COVID-19
on WA's hospitality industry.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the McGowan government is supporting the
industry as it prepares to safely return to business?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the government is helping WA's
hospitality businesses protect both their staff and the public from the virus?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her
question.
(1)–(2) As everyone knows, 18 May will be a big moment in
the history of Western Australia as we move to open up some of our
hospitality businesses. Some weeks ago, however, we moved to prepare those
businesses and that sector for opening, and on 29 April, the Premier and I announced
that the government had launched a COVID hygiene training course for the
hospitality sector. It became available to all hospitality workers in Western Australia
free of charge, delivered by the Australian Hotels Association WA online, and
also in hard copy in the event that people did not have access to the internet.
It involves staff learning about food and beverage service in premises in the
new COVID environment. It is focused on the best possible advice and guidance
from the World Health Organization and federal and state health authorities,
and ensures that all workers in the hospitality sector are given the best
possible preparation for those hospitality businesses opening. I can say that
as of yesterday, some 35 000 Western Australian hospitality workers had
enrolled in the course and 30 000 had completed the training. It is
contributing a direct part of our COVID
safety plan, which the Minister for Health and I referred to in a media conference
yesterday, that will be required of every hospitality venue in advance of them
opening on 18 May. There is a lot of support behind this requirement. Each
venue will have to post a notice with their name; the maximum number of people
they are entitled to host within their venue under the COVID rules;
confirmation that they are complying with the four-square-metre rule and a maximum
of 20 people; and maintain attendance records for patrons to ensure that we can
do accurate and efficient tracing of any outbreaks that occur, thereby
protecting the rest of the community. They must confirm that alcohol will only
be served with a meal and they will be required to carefully manage waiting
areas to ensure social distancing. Of course, all their staff will have to have
completed the COVID hygiene training course. It is just one of the things we
are doing to ensure that all our hospitality businesses can, as soon as
possible, return to profit-making activity in the new world, in the new threat
environment, ensuring that we do that in the safest possible way.
This morning, I hosted a meeting with
representatives from various government agencies including CEOs from the
Tourism Council of WA, the Australian Hotels Association, Crown, Clubs WA,
Wines of Western Australia, and the Regional
Chambers of Commerce and Industry WA, and leaders from Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts, the WA Nightclubs Association,
Small Bar Association of WA, the Western Australian Local Government
Association, and D�me cafes, and gave them their first opportunity for some
consultation, albeit very short and limited on this particular measure, noting,
of course, that we are responding rapidly. The national cabinet announced its
decision on Friday. We moved as fast as we could to give some notice for 18 May.
In advance of that, we had a brief consultation today, but there will be more
as we prepare for further lifting of restrictions, and we will be preparing the
industry for those moves down the track.
question.
(1)–(2) As everyone knows, 18 May will be a big moment in
the history of Western Australia as we move to open up some of our
hospitality businesses. Some weeks ago, however, we moved to prepare those
businesses and that sector for opening, and on 29 April, the Premier and I announced
that the government had launched a COVID hygiene training course for the
hospitality sector. It became available to all hospitality workers in Western Australia
free of charge, delivered by the Australian Hotels Association WA online, and
also in hard copy in the event that people did not have access to the internet.
It involves staff learning about food and beverage service in premises in the
new COVID environment. It is focused on the best possible advice and guidance
from the World Health Organization and federal and state health authorities,
and ensures that all workers in the hospitality sector are given the best
possible preparation for those hospitality businesses opening. I can say that
as of yesterday, some 35 000 Western Australian hospitality workers had
enrolled in the course and 30 000 had completed the training. It is
contributing a direct part of our COVID
safety plan, which the Minister for Health and I referred to in a media conference
yesterday, that will be required of every hospitality venue in advance of them
opening on 18 May. There is a lot of support behind this requirement. Each
venue will have to post a notice with their name; the maximum number of people
they are entitled to host within their venue under the COVID rules;
confirmation that they are complying with the four-square-metre rule and a maximum
of 20 people; and maintain attendance records for patrons to ensure that we can
do accurate and efficient tracing of any outbreaks that occur, thereby
protecting the rest of the community. They must confirm that alcohol will only
be served with a meal and they will be required to carefully manage waiting
areas to ensure social distancing. Of course, all their staff will have to have
completed the COVID hygiene training course. It is just one of the things we
are doing to ensure that all our hospitality businesses can, as soon as
possible, return to profit-making activity in the new world, in the new threat
environment, ensuring that we do that in the safest possible way.
This morning, I hosted a meeting with
representatives from various government agencies including CEOs from the
Tourism Council of WA, the Australian Hotels Association, Crown, Clubs WA,
Wines of Western Australia, and the Regional
Chambers of Commerce and Industry WA, and leaders from Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts, the WA Nightclubs Association,
Small Bar Association of WA, the Western Australian Local Government
Association, and D�me cafes, and gave them their first opportunity for some
consultation, albeit very short and limited on this particular measure, noting,
of course, that we are responding rapidly. The national cabinet announced its
decision on Friday. We moved as fast as we could to give some notice for 18 May.
In advance of that, we had a brief consultation today, but there will be more
as we prepare for further lifting of restrictions, and we will be preparing the
industry for those moves down the track.
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