Health authorities keep South Australia’s music venues at 75% capacity

Despite strong lobbying by South Australia’s music venues and hospitality groups to be allowed to go back to 100% capacity, SA Health has declared the current 75% rule will stay “for the time being”.

Assistant Police Commissioner Noel Bamford told media the state’s COVID Transition Committee saw “no reason to change” current restrictions “given the current climate”.

He was referring to SA Health concerns that public use of QR codes had declined by up to 20%, which was attributed to “complacency” and “pandemic fatigue”, on top of the slow rate of vaccination in the state.

“I think the perspective is that the more people that are vaccinated, the better the level of confidence that everybody will have that the risk has been managed,” Bamford said, in response to a question about when the 75% capacity limit might be reviewed.

“I’m sure everybody understands the virus is very unpredictable, we have outbreaks in other states, there’s always the risk of an outbreak in South Australia.

“So erring on the side of caution is always the best way to manage the risk.”

The live music sector’s irritation grew after SA Health allowed the May 8 AFL Showdown match between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval to go from 40,000 spectators to full capacity of 53,000.

“If it is legitimate for 53,000 fans to be safely allowed at the Oval, then it is safe for hospitality venues to [fully] trade, especially to help them through a bleak winter,” Ian Horne, head of Australian Hotels Association SA, told AdelaideNow.

Bamford responded: “The events at Adelaide Oval are controlled by COVID Management Plans [and] there are significant controls about the way people move through the stadium.

“I think it’s a little bit of a leap to compare general circulation in small businesses to what goes on in the stadium.”

Meanwhile, Sunshine Coast venue NightQuarter is in discussion with Queensland Health about increasing its capacity.

In March the venue at Stockland Birtinya Shopping Centre was fined $6,500 after a show with The Jungle Giants and Confidence Man had a standing crowd.

Authorities told the operators their concerts had to be seated and ticketed.

NightQuarter argued that would slash its capacity to 1,853 and not be financially viable.

“Navigating this new world where live music venues are operating under layers and layers of red tape has its challenges,” the venue posted.

NightQuarter was publicly-voted best regional venue at the Queensland Music Awards last night.