FIX SCANNERS FOR GAMES

CHEERS to Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan for reaching out to the head of the Surfers Paradise nightclub lobby.

As revealed in today’s Bulletin, Mr Donovan, a highly experienced tourism mover and shaker, front-footed the need for the city party precinct to be seen as safe and wecolming by calling for a tete-a-tete with Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president Tim Martin.

It makes sense they have regular dialogue because in many ways their interests are aligned.

The city’s late-night scene might not be for everyone but it is an important part of the tourism offering for a certain segment of visitors, and crucial to overall perceptions internationally. It is crucial ahead of the Commonwealth Games that the hospitality offering is up to par.

The sector is right to be concerned about the rigidity of the State Government compulsory ID scanning regime.

The concept is a sound one – the scanners are linked to a statewide database of patrons with court or police-ordered bar bans and redflags them when their IDs are entered.

But it is not perfect – the system was plagued by problems when it launched late June with many foreign IDs not compatible and requiring manual entry.

Compatibility is being improved constantly by the Government-approved scanner provider Scantek but remains a concern.

Bar bosses are also hoping for relaxation around certain aspects – why can’t they let in people who turn up with expired IDs?

Why can’t they offer a “pass out” card to already scanned patrons who pop out briefly for a cigarette or similar so they don’t have to rejoin a lengthy queue to be scan back in?

Like Mr Donovan, the State Government must come to the party and start considering offering leeway – particularly during the Games when international visitors will descend on the city and its party precinct.

There are some encouraging signs. Games Minister Kate Jones and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have opened the door to discussions around hospitality concerns by promising a committee of stakeholders to workshop issues.

But some modifications — at least temporary ones during the Games fortnight – are a must.