A Day Of Mixed Tidings For The Nations Restaurants

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4th November 2010, 07:22pm - Views: 1544





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MEDIA RELEASE

4 November 2010

IMMEDIATE




A DAY OF MIXED TIDINGS FOR THE NATIONS RESTAURANTS


Another stellar monthly revenue result for the restaurant sector is dampened by news of the ACCC

picking on restaurants in the courts!


Restaurant & Catering, the peak organisation representing the interests of restaurateurs and

caterers in Australia is pleased to see another outstanding monthly result for the industry.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data released today showed that restaurant, café and catering

sector turnover was 17.6% in September 2010 compared to September 2009. This concluded the

July to  September quarter 18.2% up on the year previous at $4.677 Billion.


In contrast, Restaurant & Catering is extremely disappointed with the decision of the Australian

Competition and Consumer Commission to bring legal action against two Sydney restaurants that

have been ordered by the Federal Court to pay $13,200 each for breaching the all-inclusive pricing

laws on menus. 


John Hart, CEO of Restaurant & Catering Australia said that

‘the penalties are grotesque and

restaurateurs, caterers and café owners should be excluded from section 53(c) of the Trade

Practices Act’. 


The Australian Government released a Productivity Commission Circular on 12 October 2010

stating ‘the surcharges on restaurant meals on Sunday and/or public holidays were not a focus of

the original concerns raised in regard to component pricing. The Productivity Commission go on to

say that ‘the Australian Government should amend the Trade Practices Act

1974 to have

restaurant and café menu surcharges for specific days placed outside the scope of the competent

pricing provisions of the legislation’

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Hart says ‘the ACCC should place a suspension on issuing penalties to restaurants and cafés  until

the Australian Government has had time to digest the Productivity Commission’s view and

announce their response’.


Restaurant & Catering Australia will continue to lobby the Australian Government on behalf of its

members to amend the pricing provisions under the Trade Practices Act 1974.




For further information on this media release please contact

John Hart

Chief Executive Officer

Restaurant & Catering

P: 1300 722 878 or 0407 554 878

E: jhart@restaurantcater.asn.au 

                                                                

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