‘It can’t be both’: Restaurant association questions rationale behind the return of density limits

From 11.59pm tonight, density limits will return in a bid to curb skyrocketing COVID-19 cases in the state.

Indoor entertainment and hospitality venues, except for indoor seated cinemas and theatres, will be subject to a one person per two square metre rule.

But Restaurant and Catering Industry CEO Wes Lambert has called the reasoning behind the reintroduction of density limits into question.

“It is a shame that the government has turned to density restrictions to limit case numbers but continue to say case numbers are not the measure,” he told Heidi Murphy, filling in for Tom Elliott.

“Either case numbers are the measure and we need business support, and we need grants, and we need payroll tax deferrals and we need the retail leases act to come back, or … it’s just hospitalisations and ICUs and let’s get on learning to live with COVID.

“It can’t be both. It can’t be somewhere in the middle.”

Mr Lambert says until the state government stops making policy based on case numbers, hospitality will continue to be “hammered”.

Press PLAY below to hear why Wes Lambert is questioning the reasoning behind the rule reintroduction

COVID-19 restriction reintroduced and a new reporting requirement added as cases surge in Victoria