Venue kept under capacity by technology delays, owner says ID scanners review call
THE introduction of compulsory ID scanners in the Townsville nightlife hub has hampered trade, one business owner says.
Mad Cow Tavern owner Mark Napier is calling for an urgent review of ID scanners after the Queensland Government obligated all licensees in safe night precincts to install the technology by July 1.
Mr Napier said the changes were affecting his business.
“We’re under pressure. We’re not going to close but we’ll do everything we can to ensure our workers have jobs,” Mr Napier said.
He said there were long lines outside the venue, which had not hit capacity since the introduction of the scanners.
“The experience thus far by licensed venues is that our patronage is not happy with the delay of entering the venues,” he said.
“Some venues have experienced fights in the lines, others have had to start charging door charge to offset the increased operational costs and lost revenue over the bars. Venues also have had to reduce and put off staff within venues as trade is not there, patrons are outside.”
He said the implementation of scanners had cost jobs, increased ongoing costs for small business, and damaged tourism and the local economy.
“Small businesses were given no opportunity to find an ID supplier outside the only two ‘ approved’ operators by the State Government to choose from, leaving small business to basically suck eggs and accept the ongoing costs by these suppliers with no option to negotiate pricing,” he said.
“Not only this, through statistical information received as the from the ID scanners, the State Government receives commercial sensitive information about every venue who operates these ID machines.”
He said he was not against the scanners.
“They’ve helped us deter some trouble and have streamlined the banning processes. We just need an urgent review,” he said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged a possible review of the regulations for next year.
The safe night precinct in Townsville includes parts of Flinders St, The Strand, Sturt St and Entertainment Drive.