ID scanner review ‘putting cart before the horse’

AN operator of popular taverns is fuming at thousands od daollars in extra costs for compulsory ID scanning and says the Premier promising to review problems is a “bit late”.

Broadbeach’s Envy Hotel manager Peter Thompson, who also co-owns Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern at Marina Mir- age, yesterday unleashed a tirade about the rollout’s launch as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk promised to make changes where need.

“They have put the cart before the horse,” he said, adding his preference was for the whole system to be “scrapped”.

Mr Thompson said most venues had been ID scanning anyway but the new compulsory machines – linked to a statewide database redflagging banned patrons – had cost $1500 to install.

On top of costing more than $100 a week to rent, having an extra licensed security staffer on for about five hours a night to operate it was another $200.

Ms Palaszczuk is promising to troubleshoot the new scanners which must be operated by licensed security from 10pm in Safe Night Precinct venues open past midnight.

Envy bar normally shuts about 1am on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays but had to have a security staffer it wouldn’t normally need, Mr Thompson said.

“And it might only be for two or three people wanting to play the pokies. On Friday and Saturdays, fair enough.

“But it’s basically costing us another $1000 a week for security that is not going to improve our turnover. It is not really helping anything.”

Ms Palaszczuk said it was “early days” for the system.

“Of course we will always be listening and where we can make changes we will respond but I have actually sat down with some of the hotel operators as well and what they envisage is a thriving increase in restaurant activity.”

Surfers Paradise MP JohnPaul Langbroek said the scanner rollout had been “poorly executed and thought out”.

Attorney General Yvette D’Ath said the process was being “fully evaluated as to the benefits of these reforms”.