Years Serving the SA Hotel Industry
From the President DAVID BASHEER – AHA|SA PRESIDENT
Horne and Moeller: Hospitality Heroes The AHA|SA is extremely grateful to Premier Steven Marshall, the Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and the Transition Committee for the further easing of restrictions. With festivals and footy breaking down the barriers, combined with tighter controls introduced over medi-hotels, it was the time to move our hospitality economy forward. And we are very grateful the Transition Committee saw it that way. It is only right that I take this moment to acknowledge the incredible work done by Ian Horne and Anna Moeller that has allowed this critical breakthrough.
AHA|SA’s Ian Horne and Anna Moeller.
We have learnt over the past 12 months that change does not come quickly, nor without compelling arguments. The relative safety of SA has reflected the cautious health approach. With that in mind, Ian and Anna began the campaign for a 75% density level and dancing within venues on the 4th of December with the Peel Street “protest” - soon after the infamous Parafield lockdown.
Knowing every day stalled is lost income and a lost opportunity, in the new year their efforts were significantly ramped up, including fortnightly meetings with both SAPOL and Health. Critically, their persuasive efforts were supported by well researched fact-based documentation. They worked seven-day 4 | Hotel SA | W W W . A H A S A . A S N . A U
weeks, tirelessly lobbying on our behalf. In the end, their argument proved compelling. Combine this with the high degree of venue compliance – as noted by the Premier - and a general mood shift amongst the community, and we are pleased to be able to progressively restore more jobs and business activity whilst still operating in a Covid-Safe environment.
GREAT URGENCY REQUIRED ON VACCINES The initial roll out of vaccines has been painfully slow. Public leaders have dismissed this, saying we must be cautious and careful. The messaging has been that Australia is fortunate not to have the widespread health crisis suffered by others, so there is no need to rush. Those whose livelihoods are threatened by restrictions, particularly around international travel, see it differently. Australia can be justifiably proud that we have handled the health crisis far better than the US or UK. Yet now we see that the USA has celebrated 100M people vaccinated (more by the time you read this). In the UK, where Covid-19 was rampant, deaths are now at the lowest level since last September and continue to fall. Our British friends have managed to vaccinate 27 million people - equivalent to every man, woman and child in Australia. In addition to that, the UK has something we have craved here and repeatedly called for—a clear road map out of restrictions to get back full trading The UK has created an accountability that can be measured. Back to Contents
