Townsville bar owner fears pokies reliance, as expert panel set to meet

A Queensland publican has expressed concerns that venues without gaming machines will struggle to break even within the next decade. This worry comes as a panel of experts, tasked with revitalizing the state's nightlife economy, prepares for its inaugural meeting next month.

Queensland's Nightlife Economy Commissioner, John "JC" Collins, bassist for the band Powderfinger, is concluding a statewide listening tour to understand the industry's long-term challenges and will participate in the meeting. His aim is to gather firsthand insights from the industry to inform future policy decisions.

Business owner Colin Leek, who operates the Irish pub Molly Malone's and its adjoining late-night venue Otherwise Bar in Townsville, says the costs of running a business are increasing too rapidly, and price hikes can no longer be passed on to customers. "Most operators I know are not in it to make money," he said. "They're just trying to get to that break-even point, simply pay the bills and survive."

Mr. Leek stated that while many operators are looking to cut costs, those with gaming licenses and poker machines are often able to turn a profit, even if they lose money on food and beverages. "It's not an option for us," he said. "As a venue, we've decided not to be involved in gambling or poker machines because we don't see any benefit in it." He is concerned that more businesses will turn to gambling to stay afloat.

"My biggest fear has always been that in the next 10 to 15 years, you're only going to see venues that have gaming facilities, because that's the only part of their business that's profitable," Mr. Leek said. The Ville Resort-Casino CEO Tim Richardson, one of two North Queensland representatives on the 16-person panel, which was formed to advise the Queensland government on revitalizing the nightlife economy, said Townsville faced many unique challenges, including a lack of public transport options in the night-time precinct and difficulty attracting staff.

"Staffing is a continuous problem in Townsville – I think Townsville struggles to compete with the south-east of Queensland operations," he said. "We're very reliant on 88-day visa labor. Without those people, I think a lot of businesses in Townsville would struggle to operate." He also emphasized the importance of representation from North Queensland, as the region faces unique challenges and issues not necessarily seen in the government and hospitality-heavy areas of south-east Queensland.

Musician Adam Hyde, who performs under the name Keli Holiday, this week began his "Last Jester" tour of North Queensland. From the Edge Hill Tavern in Cairns to the Dalrymple Hotel in Garbutt, Townsville, Hyde is touring towns along the east coast of Australia. The Peking Duk frontman is no stranger to global tours, but he told the ABC this was the first time he had toured regionally as a solo act, Keli Holiday.

"The energy of the regional towns is intoxicating," he said. "It feels like there's so many shows in so many towns over so many days — it feels like a proper pub rock tour." Hyde said he would be travelling around North Queensland in a four-wheel drive. "It's definitely a slog, travelling by yourself, it's harder to get to these places," he said. "We're pretty much jumping in the car after each show, either driving straight after the show or first thing in the morning."

Hyde said ticket prices were set at about $35, a deliberate move to make his regional shows more accessible. "We want to make the tour affordable for anyone who wants to come," he said. Hyde said musicians faced a range of hurdles when touring around the country. "There are so many different angles financially that are hitting the music industry at the moment," he said. "It's harder to get four people on the road to tour — flights, accommodation, travel, food ... all that stuff really adds up."

Mr. Collins has travelled to Townsville, Mount Isa, Airlie Beach, and Rockhampton as part of his listening tour. He said the expert panel's first meeting would unpack the consistent issues heard across the state, including reducing red tape and the cost of living. "It's been great to talk to people who live and breathe the night-time economy," he said. "I'm hoping our office will be able to deliver a report to the minister mid-year." The Powderfinger star said he was committed to his three-year term as commissioner. "This isn't going to be an overnight fix," he said. "We're here for the long haul, and we want to get it right."