Onerous Covid-19 checklist to deter outback venues from opening until July

Outback venues in Queensland are unlikely to open before July despite the easing of restrictions that began this weekend.

While venues are being given permission to begin trading again in a limited format, the addition of a proposed Covid-19 safety checklist for all venues is putting many off from opening.

The draft Covid-19 safe checklist for hotels, cafes, restaurants pubs and clubs has a long list of requirements around social distancing, hygiene and well-being of workers.

The proposals include having separate exit and entry points and separate order and collection points to minimise contact, setting time limits for patrons onsite, ensuring social distancing of 4 square metres per person and requiring businesses to keep contact information for all tables and workers, including name, address and mobile phone number for a period of at least 28 days.

The Mount Isa Irish Club has said it won't reopen until July, while The Walkabout Creek Hotel in Mckinlay is still only open for takeaway service.

"It's too early to re-open with the amount of traffic and the fact we can't yet open the bar,” owner Debbie Wust told The North West Star.

Debbie, who runs the hotel with her husband Frank, said the safety checklist looked too onerous for small businesses.

"It's only Frank and I here," she said.

Sheridan Randall, 13^th May 2020