GOVERNMENT SERVES UP MISERY TO EATERIES

LAST month, a local culinary treasure again made it on to the list of the world’s best restaurants. I was pleased to recognise this international success in parliament.

Brae, at Birregurra, has done itself incredibly proud. By extension it makes us all proud.

Only two Australian restaurants made it onto the long list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants (51-100), Brae at 57 and Attica, in Melbourne, at 97.

The best restaurant in the world is again Noma, in Denmark. It remains a “foodie” mecca, illuminating the might and influence that food destinations play in the tourism industry.

People travel for extraordinary experiences, something new, something fabulous.

It is why Brae’s global luminosity is really something.

It is truly a thing of awe that this little place, in a little town in our part of the world, my Western Region electorate, in fact; is among the most extraordinary on the globe in one of the toughest industries.

Brae’s owner and head chef, Dan Hunter, is the gem who makes it so. That he has achieved this during the ongoing lockdowns in Victoria is remarkable.

Small businesses have been gutted, garrotted and deeply bruised by the Premier’s demands, so many of which have not made sense.

In fact, Victoria’s chief health officer, Brett Sutton, told a parliamentary committee last year that he did not factor business impacts into any of the advice he gave the Premier on lockdowns.

And the Premier keeps telling us he only takes his advice from the CHO.

As such, he has only considered one piece of the pie.

The restaurant industry is among those hoping the current easing of restrictions don’t repeat the yoyo formula of previous diktats: open-shut, open-shut with an hour’s notice and density limits – then numbers rules – making no sense. Even now, they face the moving feast of Covid decrees that must be enforced by businesses at risk of $109,000 fines.

Confidence is key.

As locals, we need to support local businesses, including restaurants such as Brae, to make sure they overcome the Premier’s arrogant and ignorant political blows.

Among all this, Brae is a symbol of excellence. Aiming high and doing your best is the lesson for us all at a time when hope is in big demand.

Bev McArthur,

Western Victoria MP