Fitness Australia boss takes aim at ‘ludicrous’ Andrews government scheme

The boss of the peak body representing the fitness industry says a state government proposal that gyms set up outdoors is “ludicrous”.

Yesterday, Small Business Minister Jaala Pulford announced $2000 grants for businesses, including gyms and hairdressers, to set up outdoors to boost capacity as businesses open under strict COVID-19 rules.

CEO of Fitness Australia, Barrie Elvish, has slammed the move.

“I wish that our small business gyms could get out on the street but I’m afraid that’s not really viable,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“You can run a bootcamp outdoors in a park … but you cannot take out treadmills and pin loaded machines and put them outside.”

Mr Elvish says communication from the state government to gyms throughout the pandemic shutdowns has been “exceptionally confusing”.

“Just to give you one example, we’ve been approached by the government to look at setting up pop up vaccine centres at our gyms, but the gyms can’t open,” he said.

“Our personal trainers are mandated to be vaccinated, but they can’t open.

“This is just crazy.”

Press PLAY below to hear why Mr Elvish thinks the Victorian government handling of gym rules has been ‘just crazy’