MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper wants regional Victorians to be able to have a drink at their local pub or club without having to order a meal.
Ms Cupper said coronavirus restrictions, which also limited venues to 20 seated patrons, should be relaxed in the country due to low case numbers.
She highlighted the impact of the restrictions in small towns in particular, where the pub or club was often “the hub of the community”.
“While they have been able to reopen from June 1, the condition the venues must serve food is too restrictive,” Ms Cupper said.
“The ability to head to your local public bar for a drink or two after work is part of the fabric of many of these small communities.
“Given there are so few active COVID-19 cases in regional Victoria, it only seems reasonable that more patrons can attend for a couple of drinks without the need to have a meal.”
The current allowance for 20 patrons per enclosed space was due to increase to 50 on June 22 and a further increase of up to 100 patrons was planned for the second half of July.
However, the Department of Health and Human Services website did not indicate a date for any change to meal service.
The department’s advice was that a meal “must be a genuine meal — not a snack”.
Ms Cupper also drew attention to issues caused by the lack of consistency between Victoria and NSW.
She said clubs on the Victorian side of the border had been unable to operate pokies, leading to a scenario where offering meal services to such a small clientele had meant they were operating at a loss.
“Most, if not all, of the smaller towns in the electorate have not had a recorded case of the coronavirus and Mildura has not had an active case in weeks and weeks,” Ms Cupper said.
“It’s now time for the government to start loosening the restrictions in the regions.”
