Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now it's being reported that Australia Days celebrations have been
banned at more than two hundred pubs and bars nationwide
because the owners say that the day causes sadness and
hurt for some patrons. The country's second biggest pub group,
Australian Venue Co, has informed managers that there's going to
be no celebrating or acknowledging the day at their venues
(00:21):
in twenty twenty five. Now joining us on the line
is Hospitality NT's new CEO, Kathy Simmons. Good morning to you, Kathy.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Hi Katie, how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah? Really good? Thanks so much for joining us this morning. Kathy,
what was your reaction to the move that has been
made by Australian Venue Co.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I mean it's, you know, from the industry perspective, it's
a decision to watch. There's obviously been a shift in
broader community sentiment around the history of Australia Day, and
that varies from place to place. You know, you've got
the Wooli's decision not to have an Australia A Kit
in stores. Both decisions are on you know, commercial realities,
(01:01):
Like there's something clearly in the numbers that says to
these the venue owner that this is a way to
either make or save some money. So you know, there's
a decision that the venue owners have made, and I'm
no doubt all venue owners here and down south will
be watching to see what the patrons do around it.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, I was going to say, do you reckon it
is more so by the sounds of it, It is
more a situation where it's not so much about them
taking sort of a stance either way. It's about maybe
the numbers not reflecting that people are wanting to rock
up on Australia Day and celebrate in the way that
they once did.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah, I think that's right. And you know, as you mentioned,
like they're they're a pretty big venue of like two
hundred venues, so it will be really interesting to see,
you know, yeah, like what happens with those venues in
Sydney or Melbourne versus you know, Queensland or like well,
regional areas where there is differing views on Australia Day.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
And so will many pubs and bars in the Northern
Territory be impacted by this decision by Australian venue coe.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I don't think we have many venues here owned by
Shane Venue Co. I'm pretty sure it's in the you know,
the low single digits, so I don't I don't think so.
I haven't heard any of my members raising Australia Days
as a concern, right, like indicating one way or another
whether they're going to you know, pull the pin on
having a special day or or go ahead with celebrations. Like,
(02:27):
no one's really raised it as a concern. So yeah,
definitely we'll all be watching to see what happens, but
I don't anticipate too much change compared to last year
at this stage, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah, I'll be really interested to see what does happen
here in the Northern Territory because it seems as though
like some of the pubs and bars seem to be
really very busy on Australia Day here in the NT.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah, definitely, you know, it's everyone loves a public holiday,
everyone loves you know, going out there to their local
and enjoying a meal and as they should. Yeah, you know,
there might be a bit of a a delay I
suppose in some of those cultural impacts of the conversation
kind of hitting like what actually happens in pubs because
(03:11):
at this stage, it is still a public holiday and
people who aren't working on that day will head down
to the pub and enjoy a beer.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah, and look, you've sort of you've gone into you
know what I was planning on asking, which is you know,
whether you whether you think it is sort of an
interesting move, I guess, or whether we may see others
follow suit. So, I mean, we know that the date
does remain the same for Australia Day. There's not sort
of been a change from the government, so you know, yeah,
(03:40):
I guess what it kind of means for businesses. I
guess in terms of what they decide to do on
that day.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, well that's right. You know, this decision will probably
prompt a few other venue owners to think about what
they were planning to do. We're I've been considering it before.
They're just planning a event and whether they want to
I guess participate in that cultural conversation a bit a
bit more. I certainly won't be telling my members what
(04:08):
to do on that level, you know, just supporting each
of them whichever way they decide to go. But yeah,
like to your point, I can't see either the cop
territory government or the labor federal government banning the day exactly.
So you know, if my advice to punters on the
day would be like, if they don't like what a
particular venue is pitching on the day, doesn't mean their
(04:29):
their their values or their opinion of the conversation. Just
find a venue that does well.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
And as you touched on, you know, it sounds as
though it does really come down to a commercial decision
for most venues as well, how they do or do
not choose to celebrate on that day and what they
choose to do. I guess on that day, that's it.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
That's that's pretty much what happens. You know. It's the
same with other other days, you know, maybe, but yeah,
I guess less fraud you know, like Saint Patrick's Day
celebrated it that Irish Irish pubs and a lot of
pubs Irish will not tend to do something that some
of them choose not to when it's on a statement.
It's just you know, something that they choose to do
(05:07):
that goes with their brand, I suppose. So I think
that's the case here as well.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Well. Look, I've no doubt there'll be plenty of people
keen to talk about it this morning. I'm betting that
we're going to get plenty of messages. Kathy, how's it
all been going since you've taken on the role as
the Hospitality and t CEO.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's been fantastic. It's my third week in the job,
so you know, a lot of topical discussions coming up now.
This one is definitely an interesting one to talk about
as well on Australia. But yeah, it's been fantastic and
I'm really looking forward to getting out meeting more of
the members and punters and hearing what they want to
see in the industry going forward.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Well, good to speak with you this morning, Appreciate your
time and no doubt we'll talk to you again.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
So thanks Krati, great, thank you,
Now it's being reported that Australia Days celebrations have been
banned at more than two hundred pubs and bars nationwide
because the owners say that the day causes sadness and
hurt for some patrons. The country's second biggest pub group,
Australian Venue Co, has informed managers that there's going to
be no celebrating or acknowledging the day at their venues
(00:21):
in twenty twenty five. Now joining us on the line
is Hospitality NT's new CEO, Kathy Simmons. Good morning to you, Kathy.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Hi Katie, how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah? Really good? Thanks so much for joining us this morning. Kathy,
what was your reaction to the move that has been
made by Australian Venue Co.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
I mean it's, you know, from the industry perspective, it's
a decision to watch. There's obviously been a shift in
broader community sentiment around the history of Australia Day, and
that varies from place to place. You know, you've got
the Wooli's decision not to have an Australia A Kit
in stores. Both decisions are on you know, commercial realities,
(01:01):
Like there's something clearly in the numbers that says to
these the venue owner that this is a way to
either make or save some money. So you know, there's
a decision that the venue owners have made, and I'm
no doubt all venue owners here and down south will
be watching to see what the patrons do around it.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, I was going to say, do you reckon it
is more so by the sounds of it, It is
more a situation where it's not so much about them
taking sort of a stance either way. It's about maybe
the numbers not reflecting that people are wanting to rock
up on Australia Day and celebrate in the way that
they once did.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah, I think that's right. And you know, as you mentioned,
like they're they're a pretty big venue of like two
hundred venues, so it will be really interesting to see,
you know, yeah, like what happens with those venues in
Sydney or Melbourne versus you know, Queensland or like well,
regional areas where there is differing views on Australia Day.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
And so will many pubs and bars in the Northern
Territory be impacted by this decision by Australian venue coe.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
I don't think we have many venues here owned by
Shane Venue Co. I'm pretty sure it's in the you know,
the low single digits, so I don't I don't think so.
I haven't heard any of my members raising Australia Days
as a concern, right, like indicating one way or another
whether they're going to you know, pull the pin on
having a special day or or go ahead with celebrations. Like,
(02:27):
no one's really raised it as a concern. So yeah,
definitely we'll all be watching to see what happens, but
I don't anticipate too much change compared to last year
at this stage, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Yeah, I'll be really interested to see what does happen
here in the Northern Territory because it seems as though
like some of the pubs and bars seem to be
really very busy on Australia Day here in the NT.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Yeah, definitely, you know, it's everyone loves a public holiday,
everyone loves you know, going out there to their local
and enjoying a meal and as they should. Yeah, you know,
there might be a bit of a a delay I
suppose in some of those cultural impacts of the conversation
kind of hitting like what actually happens in pubs because
(03:11):
at this stage, it is still a public holiday and
people who aren't working on that day will head down
to the pub and enjoy a beer.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah, and look, you've sort of you've gone into you
know what I was planning on asking, which is you know,
whether you whether you think it is sort of an
interesting move, I guess, or whether we may see others
follow suit. So, I mean, we know that the date
does remain the same for Australia Day. There's not sort
of been a change from the government, so you know, yeah,
(03:40):
I guess what it kind of means for businesses. I
guess in terms of what they decide to do on
that day.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, well that's right. You know, this decision will probably
prompt a few other venue owners to think about what
they were planning to do. We're I've been considering it before.
They're just planning a event and whether they want to
I guess participate in that cultural conversation a bit a
bit more. I certainly won't be telling my members what
(04:08):
to do on that level, you know, just supporting each
of them whichever way they decide to go. But yeah,
like to your point, I can't see either the cop
territory government or the labor federal government banning the day exactly.
So you know, if my advice to punters on the
day would be like, if they don't like what a
particular venue is pitching on the day, doesn't mean their
(04:29):
their their values or their opinion of the conversation. Just
find a venue that does well.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
And as you touched on, you know, it sounds as
though it does really come down to a commercial decision
for most venues as well, how they do or do
not choose to celebrate on that day and what they
choose to do. I guess on that day, that's it.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
That's that's pretty much what happens. You know. It's the
same with other other days, you know, maybe, but yeah,
I guess less fraud you know, like Saint Patrick's Day
celebrated it that Irish Irish pubs and a lot of
pubs Irish will not tend to do something that some
of them choose not to when it's on a statement.
It's just you know, something that they choose to do
(05:07):
that goes with their brand, I suppose. So I think
that's the case here as well.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Well. Look, I've no doubt there'll be plenty of people
keen to talk about it this morning. I'm betting that
we're going to get plenty of messages. Kathy, how's it
all been going since you've taken on the role as
the Hospitality and t CEO.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's been fantastic. It's my third week in the job,
so you know, a lot of topical discussions coming up now.
This one is definitely an interesting one to talk about
as well on Australia. But yeah, it's been fantastic and
I'm really looking forward to getting out meeting more of
the members and punters and hearing what they want to
see in the industry going forward.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Well, good to speak with you this morning, Appreciate your
time and no doubt we'll talk to you again.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
So thanks Krati, great, thank you,
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