The Covid-19 pandemic tested the limits of many industries, but few were hit as hard as the hospitality sector. The strict measures and long lockdowns in Victoria left a lasting impact on both business owners and their relationships within the community.

This article sheds light on one instance that encapsulates the tension between government leadership and the hospitality industry.

Former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews and his wife faced refusals when attempting to book tables at popular Melbourne restaurants during the Covid pandemic, a move seen as a form of protest by the city's hospitality sector against his strict lockdown measures.

Restaurateur Chris Lucas revealed that when Cath Andrews called to reserve a spot at Hawker Hall, his restaurant in Melbourne’s southeast, he responded, 'Sorry, it's not available.' He also noted that Di Stasio, another renowned Melbourne eatery outside his group, denied Mr Andrews a booking for his birthday around the same period.

Both Lucas and Rinaldo Di Stasio, owner of Di Stasio, were vocal critics of Andrews’ tough Covid policies, which led to Melbourne enduring the longest lockdowns globally and severely impacting its once-thriving hospitality scene.

Lucas said, 'He's got his own cross to bear but we're allowed to disagree right? We live in a democracy.'

Melbourne restaurants refused bookings for Andrews. Image source: @danielandrewsmp on Instagram

When Andrews announced in late 2020 his decision to extend Victoria’s state of emergency by 12 months, Lucas called it 'catastrophic' and described the move as if Andrews had 'dropped a bomb'.

He also stated, 'He's treating us like fools, quite frankly. I don't think the Premier has any sensitivity or compassion and if he does he is certainly not exhibiting it.'

Lucas, who leads the LUCAS Group—owner of Melbourne dining staples like Grill Americano, Kisumé, Society, and Chin Chin—further criticised the premier’s handling of the pandemic, saying, 'To simply come out and demand that he wants these powers given to him in an unprecedented form, it just smacks of insensitivity. Quite frankly we're sick of it.'

Lucas added in 2022 that 'We are a shadow of the industry that we were before Covid.'

He described the two years of lockdowns as not just financially destructive but also emotionally taxing, leaving lasting scars on the city.

Di Stasio also took a stand against Andrews, placing a full-page ad in The Australian in late 2020. In the ad, he accused both the Andrews government and the then Scott Morrison-led federal government of neglecting the hospitality industry, warning that it would be 'cripple[d]' without support.

'The neglect of temporary visa workers, skilled taxpaying members of our workforce is not only shameful, it will cripple hospitality and tourism moving forward,' Di Stasio wrote
.
Di Stasio expressed concern over the future of his industry, fearing 'total ruin' and lamenting that 'political agendas had failed us.' He concluded with an appeal: 'I invite our leaders and you to come to the table and make a positive contribution.' \

The hospitality industry wasn’t the only place to express resentment towards Andrews. Last year, members of the exclusive National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula collectively blocked him from joining.

A letter addressed to the club committee stated that over 100 members had 'expressed a clear stance against' Andrews’ potential membership.

'I seek assurances for myself and fellow members that should Daniel Andrews express interest in joining the National Golf Club that his application would undergo the standard membership approval process,' the letter from the golf club read.

Andrews, who served as Victorian Premier for a decade, stepped down in late 2023 and has since taken on a new role at Orygen, a mental health organisation.

Key Takeaways

• Former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews and his wife were reportedly refused bookings at popular Melbourne restaurants as an apparent protest by the hospitality sector against his COVID-19 lockdown policies.
• Restaurateur Chris Lucas and Rinaldo Di Stasio, both vocal critics of Andrews' handling of the pandemic, declined reservations for Andrews at their establishments.
• The strict lockdown measures imposed by Andrews were blamed for severely impacting Melbourne’s hospitality industry, leading to financial and emotional strain.
• Resentment towards Andrews’ COVID-19 policies was not limited to the hospitality sector, as members of the National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula moved to block his potential membership.

The pandemic has left many questioning the balance between public health and economic impact. Do you think the treatment of Dan Andrews by the hospitality industry was justified? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[buttons1426]

good, should be more of it

 

[pjfallon55]

He deserves every bit of criticism and banning after destroying Victoria!

 

[dabski2]

Yes for sure he deserves it, he alone took it upon himself to rule with unlimited power, to the detriment of the State and people of Victoria.

 

[Jingdow]

Rightly or wrongly, what Dan Andrews and his Health Department head, did during the Covid 19 time was to prevent the spreading of the Disease and limit the death rate.
Now, we have business leaders and owners who are still holding grudges on the former Premier.
One would need to ask!!! What is the motive behind this ?
Certainly this business owner individuals would have very little sympathy for the general population if COVID 19 was left unchecked, so that there business doors remained opened and there’s bank account balance increased, while the state was under a Pandemic alert.
Rightly or wrongly, the motive behind there actions need to be questioned.

 

[Marilynne]

This happened during the pandemic not this year or even last year - once again we are reading an old story, I for one hope that something really exciting happens soon

 

[DaveH59]

I think it is disgraceful. The man did a job and is being ostracised by partisan sections of the community. Admittedly they can do what they like with their businesses but punishing a person because you disagree with his politics is unAustralian.

 

[Colette 3799]

What was he supposed to do? There was a world wide pandemic killing thousands of people. No instruction book provided. He did what he thought was the right thing. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I’m sure he would admit himself that there were mistakes made but anything he did, I feel was done for the right reasons. He wasn’t out to destroy anyones livelihood. Time to let it go now

 

[marksavage]

I totally agree with the stance that Di Stasio and the golf clubs have taken, and implore any establishment he enters have the guts to show him the exit. He has raped the tax payers and generations to come financially, and has to pay

 

[eatmeatandlift]

Dan Andrews is a tyrant, he destroyed the state and people's lives, I hope it will catch up with him.

 

[eatmeatandlift]

I totally agree with the stance that Di Stasio and the golf clubs have taken, and implore any establishment he enters have the guts to show him the exit. He has raped the tax payers and generations to come financially, and has to pay

Same here. The covidians who support Andrews deserve nothing but contempt.

 

[Dethick]

My God yes, how about seeing our grankids as well it hurt...

 

[HelenFB]

Andrew’s dished it out to all Victorians & was proud of the power he thrust upon us. I believe that what goes around comes around. I hope Karma bites his a**e. I lost a couple of friends & some others have permanent injuries due to the lethal Covid vaccines. Sorry to be so blunt but I just hate the animal that he is. He knew what he was doing was wrong.

 

[Suzanne rose]

He definitely shouldn't have been treated like that

He wasn't the only Premier who did a lockdown ! NSW had just as long and QLD wasn't far behind.

When Covid struck we saw people dropping dead.
We saw overseas news and saw how bad it was

Take New York for one. Their death rate was that high they couldn't bury their dead and needed to dig trenches for mass graves.

Until we got that first vaccination people were dying . What our Premiers did was kept us safe.

People's lives are more important than financial gain.

 

[Dethick]

Rightly or wrongly, what Dan Andrews and his Health Department head, did during the Covid 19 time was to prevent the spreading of the Disease and limit the death rate.
Now, we have business leaders and owners who are still holding grudges on the former Premier.
One would need to ask!!! What is the motive behind this ?
Certainly this business owner individuals would have very little sympathy for the general population if COVID 19 was left unchecked, so that there business doors remained opened and there’s bank account balance increased, while the state was under a Pandemic alert.
Rightly or wrongly, the motive behind there actions need to be questioned.

Remember he locked us up when we had no cases and then let us out when we had thousands so figure...

 

[Jingdow]

I totally agree with the stance that Di Stasio and the golf clubs have taken, and implore any establishment he enters have the guts to show him the exit. He has raped the tax payers and generations to come financially, and has to pay

 

[magpie1]

I think it is disgraceful. The man did a job and is being ostracised by partisan sections of the community. Admittedly they can do what they like with their businesses but punishing a person because you disagree with his politics is unAustralian.

Ever heard of State and Federal elections.......are they UN-AUSTRALIAN too ???

 

[Jingdow]

Marksavage,
You obviously wasn’t affected by Covid 19.
You are one of a few fortunate who wasn’t.
Personally, myself, had Covid twice and I lost my older brother to the disease.
Not did I loose a brother, a friend and a careering loving individual.
Was this Dan Andrews fault?
I’m sure he was acting on medical advice, the face of authoritarian, you could say.
I’m sure if he and his team did absolutely nothing and watched the state turn into a desegregated mess, we all be complaining about it as well.
The guy did what he could do, to save as many that could saved…There is a saying- ‘ You need to be a General during the war, not after the war.’

 

[RobbyNotTheRobot]

Rightly or wrongly, what Dan Andrews and his Health Department head, did during the Covid 19 time was to prevent the spreading of the Disease and limit the death rate.
Now, we have business leaders and owners who are still holding grudges on the former Premier.
One would need to ask!!! What is the motive behind this ?
Certainly this business owner individuals would have very little sympathy for the general population if COVID 19 was left unchecked, so that there business doors remained opened and there’s bank account balance increased, while the state was under a Pandemic alert.
Rightly or wrongly, the motive behind there actions need to be questioned.

A great way to say that you are sitting on the fence with your "Rightly or wrongly' disclaimer while taking a poke at the hospitality industry stance of a wannabe little Hitler who was acting Rightly or wrongly against the WHOs recommendations that lockdown was the last resort Rightly or worngly each state had different agenders Rightly or wrongly used against us citizens. Really now, banned from walking on the beach breathing good salt air that is good to infected lungs pphhhttttt. They need to be locked up for doing that to us.

 

[RobbyNotTheRobot]

Marksavage,
You obviously wasn’t affected by Covid 19.
You are one of a few fortunate who wasn’t.
Personally, myself, had Covid twice and I lost my older brother to the disease.
Not did I loose a brother, a friend and a careering loving individual.
Was this Dan Andrews fault?
I’m sure he was acting on medical advice, the face of authoritarian, you could say.
I’m sure if he and his team did absolutely nothing and watched the state turn into a desegregated mess, we all be complaining about it as well.
The guy did what he could do, to save as many that could saved…There is a saying- ‘ You need to be a General during the war, not after the war.’

Yeah, well I lost a mother from a heart attack and lost a father from a bad liver because he drank too much and lost a brother from cancer who was 28, we had a police escort in the funeral procession and made front page in the Sydney Morning Herald because he was muti world, national and state champ in his chosen sport, have you seen someone fade away to a living skeleton? and lost another brother from a brain tumor very recently who was 47 have you seen someone lose his mind after getting an MBA?. I am the only one left and more than qualified to tell you People die every day so get over it. And save your platitudes for someone else ok