Bars and restaurants across WA have come under fire from some community members following the introduction of new state government mandated COVID-19 restrictions this week.
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On Monday WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced that proof of vaccination is now required for entry at major events and music festivals, and for nightclubs, pubs, taverns, hotels and venues with capacity for more than 500 people or which trade after midnight.
Hospitality venues across Peel and the South West have started informing patrons of the new requirements, but they have faced intense backlash from the community with some people lashing out at staff over the mandate.
Brighton Hotel restaurant manager Brittney Hutchen-Craig said businesses were thrown into a stressful situation when the state government announced the new restrictions with no prior warning.
"It left us 12 hours to prepare our staff. That ended up meaning we were all here very early in the morning making sure we had our posters and signage up ready to go," she said.
"A few of our staff have been yelled at in person, about discriminating against them or purposely choosing to mandate this.
"We had a lot of customers abusing staff about having to wear masks last week, but now asking them for proof of vaccination, it's even harder."
The abusive comments towards staff have come amid a staff shortage across Peel and the South West, with more staff leaving in recent weeks due to their unwillingness to be vaccinated.
Ms Hutchen-Craig said her business lost five staff, and now was having to turn away about 55 customers every day.
"Our staff are already tired. They're already feeling the burnout from a very busy Christmas period and being short-staffed already.
"The last thing they want is to have to come into work and cop abuse from somebody about a rule that they didn't put in place, but have to follow or face fines.
"We're not trying to discriminate anyone or leave anyone out."
Ravenswood Hotel restaurant manager Emma Holland said the business had already been dealt abuse on social media and on it's website, with hundreds of comments pouring in over the last couple of days.
"Over the phone people are calling us and being abusive to our staff members as well," she said.
"We didn't enact these laws. We're just implementing them. We're just trying to do our jobs."
Like many other venues, Ms Holland had to hire a security person who will stand at the door to check for proof of vaccination, and said she expected other businesses would do the same.
"This is going to be the new norm here, regardless of the venue size moving forward. It's happening in the Eastern states and it's going to be the same here.
Amid the rising abuse faced by hospitality venues, WA Premier Mark McGowan took to Facebook on Thursday, telling customers not to be a "dropkick" when asked for proof of vaccination.
"There is never an excuse to be rude to staff - not now, not ever," he said.
"It's not the Western Australian way.
"Requiring proof of vaccination for higher risk venues means that everyone in attendance is safer."
