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HOSPITALITY NEWS
WA needs bigger voice in crowded market
Perth to host International Rugby in 2016 and 2017
Need a Hand in the Kitchen?
EVENT NEWS
Are you U.G.L.Y?
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Alcohol plain packaging in sights for health lobby hysteria merchants
LIQUOR LICENSING NEWS
Reminder - Rugby World Cup 2015 Applications
Drink Up Times
WORKPLACE RELATIONS NEWS
The Grill'd Case: A Timely Reminder for Members
HOSPITALITY NEWS
WA needs bigger voice in crowded market
The AHA(WA) has called on the WA state government to at least double Tourism WA’s advertising budget so WA can
better compete with other Australian states and utilise WA’s full tourism potential.
International Visitor Survey (IVS) results released today show international visitation to Western Australia grew by 6.8 per
cent but trailed the national growth rate of 7.8 in the year ending March 2015.
The IVS data also showed a 9.2 per cent decline in business travel from a number of key international markets including
New Zealand, Singapore and the United States which is of concern as these are some of the biggest spenders per visit.
More Chinese tourists are travelling to Australia than ever before, but of the 829,000 Chinese tourists who visited
Australia, only 40,700 or 4.9 per cent visited Western Australia.
The figures show that of the 6.5 million people who visited Australia for the year ending March 2015, only 12.8 per cent of
them visited Western Australia.
“The other 87.2 per cent need to know what they’re missing out on in Western Australia,” said AHA(WA) CEO, Bradley
Woods.
“WA’s destination advertising budget needs to increase by at least $20 million to bring it into line with other States and
increase the number of visitors to WA”, Mr Woods concluded.
You can read the AHA’s comments in the media at the following links:
The West Australian
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/29099281/wa-tourism-growth-trails-rest-of-australia/
CIM Magazine
http://www.cimmagazine.com/cim-magazine-latest-news/wa-needs-bigger-voice-in-crowded-market#.VbgsFLOqpBd
Perth Now
http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/wa-tourism-needs-20-million-budget-boost-says-aha-wa-chief-bradley-
woods/story-fnhocr4x-1227461795242?from=public_rss
Business News
https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/More-funds-needed-to-lure-tourists-AHA
Perth to host International Rugby in 2016 and 2017
The Argentinian and South African rugby teams will go head-to-head against Australia in Perth as part of a two-year deal
signed between the State Government and the Australian Rugby Union.
The Wallabies will play Argentina's Pumas on 17 September 2016 and South Africa's Springboks in 2017 at nib Stadium,
with both games expected to generate high local and national interest from rugby fans.
The Wallabies won by a point against both Argentina and South Africa the last time both teams played here in 2013 and
2014 respectively, so it is expected the upcoming matches will provide some fierce competition.
Read more here: http://www.rugby.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1699/ArticleID/15789/Wallabies-announce-2016-
Rugby-Championship-home-Test-schedule.aspx
Need a Hand in the Kitchen?
Looking for apprentice Chefs? HGT has several keen apprentice chefs looking for work and keen to finish their trades.
Recruiting staff is a year round activity for Hospitality Group Training (HGT). HGT pre-screens candidates who are looking
for work within the hospitality industry so they are ready to start work when people like you need them urgently.
Who are HGT?
HGT are a Group Training Organisation which means we will employ the apprentices/trainees on your behalf, this
means you don’t have to commit to employing apprentices/trainees over long periods, apprentice placements can be
provided anywhere from 3 months onwards. You also have the flexibility of sending them back to us if you no longer
require them and we will source alternative venues to allow them to complete their apprenticeship or traineeship.
If you are an employer click here to view Available Candidates. The HGT Apprentice Chefs and Hospitality Trainees list is
updated regularly.
Please call Emma or Gavin at Hospitality Group Training on 9481 1602 or by
emailing [email protected] or [email protected] if you have any questions.
EVENT NEWS
Are you U.G.L.Y.?
A quick reminder to register to take part in this year's U.G.L.Y Bartender of
the Year Competition!
Everyone knows U.G.L.Y. Bartenders are a fabulous bunch with big beautiful hearts.
Register now to show you’re U.G.L.Y. by raising money in your bar and help the Leukaemia Foundation support people
with blood cancer.
U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year is The Leukaemia Foundations Hospitality Fundraiser to raise funds for people living with
blood cancer.
HOW TO SHOW YOU’RE U.G.L.Y.
Being U.G.L.Y. is easy. Plan to have heaps of fun for this serious cause from 1 October to 16 November 2015.
Be as creative as you like, and host fun and engaging fundraisers in your venue – talent nights, drag shows, paintball, quiz
nights, auctions, cocktail classes, garage sales, mini-marathons, BBQ’s, car washes, Melbourne Cup events and much,
much more. The Leukaemia Foundation’s U.G.L.Y. Crew will be on hand to help you raise as much as you can and have a
blast while being U.G.L.Y.!
In recognition of your fundraising the Leukaemia Foundation, with the support of our fantastic sponsors, are offering you
some great prizes for being U.G.L.Y.!
The highest fundraiser in each state will win a $3,000 travel voucher to plan the Ultimate U.G.L.Y. Getaway
The winning bar can choose from either a Hoshizaki Ice Machine or Lancer Beverage Systems products and services to
the value of $7,500 – let your venue manager know about this amazing prize!
And there are great prizes for everyone who raises over $1,000, with our new U.G.L.Y. Thank You Incentive Prizes:
Simply raise over $1,000 and you’ll receive the stunning Überbartool™ Kit
Raise over $5,000 and $500 worth of JB Hi-Fi Vouchers are coming your way
Raise over $10,000 and you’ll be heading off on the U.G.L.Y. VIP Cruise
Register to take part today www.uglybartender.org.au
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Alcohol plain packaging in sights for health lobby hysteria merchants
From the Sydney Morning Herald
Regulators in Australia could look to introduce graphic warning labels on packaging of alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and
food that is unhealthy, a senior partner from Herbert Smith Freehills warns.
Representatives from the law firm, which is taking on the World Trade Organisation on behalf of British American Tobacco
over plain packaging and warning labels on tobacco packaging, has told Fairfax Media that tobacco is often the "canary in
the coal mine" for changes to labelling and warnings around the world.
A beer bottle with a picture of a cirrhotic liver could soon grace Australia's tables, said Benjamin Rubinstein, who was part
of the legal team that successfully defended BAT in a $280 billion racketeering case in the US.
"I think there have been rumbling among the public health community about what's next: is it just tobacco? What about
sugary foods? Fatty foods? What about alcohol?" the HSF partner said.
Mr Rubinstein said it was possible regulators could look to introduce graphic warning labels on the packaging of alcohol
products, soft drinks and foods that were viewed as being unhealthy in the future.
Read the full article at: http://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/alcohol-junk-food-next-plain-packaging-
targets-lawyer-warns-20150726-gik3mp.html#ixzz3hExn9gmT
LIQUOR LICENSING NEWS
Reminder - Rugby World Cup 2015 Applications
Members are reminded that the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor has developed a Policy relating to the Rugby
World Cup being held in England from 18 September to 1 November 2015.
This policy can be viewed by clicking here
A representative from DRGL advised that if the one-off applications are lodged as soon as practicable, the authority will be
able to issue the relevant approvals (if granted) within two weeks of lodgement.
Therefore, if you would like to provide this service to patrons, you must submit you application; fee and submission to
DRGL as soon as possible.
Drink Up Times
There appears to be some confusion regarding drink up times and how these times are implemented.
In short, if liquor was sold on licensed premises during permitted trading hours (as per your liquor license) then two
options for drink up time exist.
1. Section 112(1)(a)(i) of the Liquor Control Act (LCA) specifies that patrons must finish consuming any liquor purchased
on premise and leave the venue within 15 minutes of the end of the trading hours.
I.e. liquor license permits trading until midnight – patrons must drink up and leave the licensed premises by 12.15am
1. BUT - if the alcohol was supplied to the patron ancillary to a meal, then the patron must finish any liquor purchased on
the premises and leave the licensed premises within 30 minutes of the end of the trading hours.
I.e. liquor license permits trading until midnight – patrons who have purchased alcohol ancillary to a meal must drink up
and leave the licensed premises by 12.30am
The AHA(WA) sought a change to Section 112(1)(a)(i) as part of the LCA Review to allow hotels, taverns and small bars 30
minutes after closing time for patrons to consume liquor on the premise and to assist with orderly departures.
Unfortunately, the Review Committee did not address this as part of the review.
This is just one of the issue that the AHA(WA) is continuing to fight for on behalf of its members – stay tuned!
WORKPLACE RELATIONS
The Grill'd Case: A Timely Reminder for Members
The Background
A case currently before the courts provides a timely reminder to members of the need to be aware of the General
Protection provisions of the Fair Work Act when considering performance management and termination of employment
issues.
The Grill’d Burger Chain is currently before the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne after an employee alleges she was
dismissed for organising a petition that requested increased pay rates and entitlements for herself and fellow employees.
Grill’d strongly denies these claims and has indicated that it will vigorously defend the case. However, the case has
already resulted in a large amount of negative media coverage for the company, with around 24,000 people have signed
an on-line petition calling for the employee involved to be re-instated.
The General Protections Provisions
As many members would be aware, the General Protection provisions of the Fair Work Act prohibit an employer from
taking adverse action against an employee because that employee chooses to exercise (or not to exercise) a workplace
right. Adverse action includes dismissing or demoting an employee, commencing unwarranted disciplinary action or
reducing their hours.
Workplace rights are defined to mean any right, responsibility or entitlement which an employee has under an industrial
agreement, award or workplace law. This includes the right to various types of leave, pay rates or the employee’s ability
to make a complaint or inquiry in relation to these.
If the court is convinced that an employer breaches the General Protection provisions, then it may make any order it
considers appropriate. This includes awarding uncapped compensation to the employee who made the claim. In recent
years, courts have handed down thousands of dollars worth of penalties against employers who have been found to have
breached the General Protections.
Lessons for Members
The Grill’d case, which will be heard on 24 August 2015, is the latest in a number of recent high-profile General
Protections claims.
The General Protections certainly do not prevent employers from commencing legitimate performance management
processes (including termination of employment), however all decisions and processes in this area need to be transparent,
defensible and well documented.
This means that members should ensure that:
They have company policies and procedures which clearly outline dispute resolution processes;
Issues which are raised by employees are addressed in a manner which is consistent with the above policies and
procedures;
Records relating to workplace relations issues, disputes and decisions should be always be retained; and
Decisions in relation to workplace relations issues should always be clearly documented and communicated in writing
to affected employees.
Most importantly, any members experiencing issues in these areas should consult with the AHA’s Workplace Relations
Team as soon as these issues arise. Recent case law demonstrates that the consequences of getting it wrong can be
huge.