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Vol 1 No 46 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021 ISSN 2653-1550
GOVERNMENT AUTHORISED OFFICERS SLAP SHOPS WITH HEFTY FINES FOR ‘MINOR’ COVID COMPLIANCE FLAWS, OWNERS LABEL
PICKY WHACKS THE STATE Government has taken goodwill out of the Christmas season for at least three Loddon small businesses.
CHAIR FIT FOR A JOLLY CHAP
Mysia’s Christmas Wonderland is lighting up for the festive season. And its creators, Julie and Alison Dean, on Saturday moved in a very big chair ready for Santa who will make his first-ever appearance in magical Mysia this year. He’ll be there on December 18 helping raise money for Uncle Bobs. LH PHOTO
NOW SELLING STOCKFEED
The businesses have been hit with what they claim are unfair $1800 fines for minor flaws in their COVID-safe plans or shop signage. Officers from the Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning watched one business finish its COVID-safe plan and said a fine would not be issued. Three weeks later, the penalty notice was in the mail. Boort hardware store owner George Tallis has already asked for a review of his fine for not displaying a sign indicating the maximum number of customers allowed in the store. “We’re allowed to have 25 ... the most we have at any time would be five or six,” he said. “We’re not a supermarket.” “They’ve even sent us a late payment fee of $40 but we didn’t receive the original notice. “And on Friday came an SMS message saying that if we didn’t pay, there would be another $160 late fee. So I’ve asked for a review, sent it by registered mail, so they (the Government) have to sign for it.” Kristy Arnold has paid the fine issued to Boort’s Arnold Family Butchers. “There were a couple of questions not completed on our COVID plan ... they watched us complete them and said we wouldn‘t be fined. Three weeks later we were and paid, not wanting to risk an increased fine. “It’s pretty much cut into the
By CHRIS EARL
money we had for ordering our Christmas meat supplies. The fine has taken a big chunk of it.” Mr Tallis said the requirement for checking vaccination status on customers had impacted his business more than during lockdowns when he operated click and collect. “It’s stressful and very uncomfortable,” he said. “We’ve got signs up for QR codes, distancing, masks ... we didn’t have one for the number of customers.” The Loddon Herald has been told that fines have been issued to businesses in Boort and Wedderburn. There is anger that DEWLP officers have been seconded to COVID compliance duties amid claims the department has cut field staff at the start of the summer fire season. Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh said the Boort community was outraged that small businesses who had remained open to provide key local services were being fined. “These businesses deserve a commendation not a fine,” he said. Mr Walsh said DEWLP had increased head office staff but decreased field officers. “You would have thought DEWLP had more important things to do than be the COVID police.” In Parliament last week, Police Minister Lisa Neville deflected criticism, saying the fines for business were under “rules that are set by the chief health officer.” She said 886 had been issued across the state.
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