It has been 704 long days since density limits were introduced in the hospitality industry, says Anthony Brierley, general manager of the Australian Hotels Association (ACT Branch), and he and other businesses are relieved they can finally return to normal trading from tonight.

The public will be able to dance, and stand up to eat and drink. Office workers will soon return to their workplaces, and buy coffee and lunch from cafés and restaurants – “doing wonders for many hospitality and retail businesses that rely on that foot traffic,” said Phillip Business Community president, Tom Adam.

That, said Graham Catt, CEO of the Canberra Business Chamber, is “a critical move to support our economic recovery and future growth”.

“Over the past months, we have worked hard to remind the ACT Government, media, and the Canberra community that many local businesses have been hurting from a ‘triple whammy’ of staff shortages, ongoing health restrictions, and a general lack of public confidence, all of which were significantly impacting trade,” Mr Catt said.

“There is an overwhelming sense of relief that the updated health advice means it’s now safe to ease restrictions that have crippled us, particularly over the past two months,” Mr Brierley said.

“Today, many businesses will breathe a sigh of relief,” Mr Catt agreed.

The hospitality industry was tired of needing to rely on government support, Mr Brierley said.

“We’ve got the chance to financially stand on our own two feet again.

“The industry will crack on with doing what we do best – providing safe and vibrant dining, drinking and entertainment options for Canberrans.

“The industry will grab this chance to pay back debt, grow our workforce, and rebuild our businesses.

“The restrictions on us over the past 704 days means we’ve supported Canberrans and kept them safe. Now we ask for them to come out and support us. We’ve finally got space for everyone again.”

Small businesses are anxious restrictions will return

But Chief Minister Andrew Barr has warned that restrictions might return, and some businesses worry how that would affect them.

Kel Watt, spokesperson for the Braddon’s United Retailers & Traders (BURT), said that news turned small businesses’ anxiety levels back up to 11.

“Businesses support appropriate restrictions to fight a public health crisis and can work with change, but no one can survive the whiplash Andrew Barr just dished out,” Mr Watt said.

“Now, with the ongoing threat of more restrictions hanging over their heads, many businesses will choose to stay shut or operate in a limited way. This is a recipe for unemployment, business failure, and an economic recession.”

BURT called for the government to develop a strategy to help make businesses resilient and manage any change, Mr Watt said.

“Additional steps are needed to make business owners and their staff move from ‘hoping’ they would stay open, to actually being ‘hopeful’ about the future.”

First, Mr Watt said, the government should devise a long-term economic recovery plan, bringing in local traders as partners to build a strategy, “rather than being seen as a hostile opponent”.

“Small businesses have effectively been the COVID police and frontline administrators of restrictions,” he said. “Common sense dictates we should be part of the planning process because we will be implementing it, as well as helped or hindered by it.”

Second, the government should send a clear message on the return of public servants to their offices.

“Businesses in Braddon and the City will continue to struggle and face closure if the thousands of workers who bought coffees, lunch, groceries, dry cleaning and other items remain at home.”

Many businesses in the Braddon precinct reported trade levels 70 per cent down, Mr Watt said. Fifteen Lonsdale Street businesses had closed in the last year; more planned to; and others were trying to sell. At least one business owner had to sell his house to avoid bankruptcy.

Third, the government should develop an innovative approach to tourism, events, and reshaping the image of the ACT.

“This will allow existing businesses to prosper, new ones to emerge and diversify the economy so we are more resilient to future economic hurdles and the mental health challenges created,” Mr Watt said.

Mr Adam wanted the government to align COVID contact rules for businesses with those for schools.

“Currently, a kid can be a close contact at school and only have to monitor for symptoms, but if they’re in my [martial arts] club for 45 minutes, they have to quarantine for seven days either way. Consistency and an actual definition of ‘close’ and ‘casual’ contact would help remove some confusion.”

Many small businesses still needed government support to help compensate for a “horrible” December and January, with severely reduced turnover, Mr Adam argued.

“The hardship grant isn’t enough – and blindly saying they’ve done enough is ignorant policy.”

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