A couple who run a salon and hairdresser in south-east Melbourne said they have crowd-funded financial backing to fight a $ 10,000 fine for opening their businesses on Saturday against Fourth Stage Lockout Rules
In this week’s second standout example, Adam and Weave Barber and Salon in Hughesdale opened its doors to customers for haircuts on Saturday morning, with owners citing « financial ruin » if they were to stay closed any longer
Police were waiting outside Jomana Najem and Rojih Alhallak’s cases at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning after Ms Najem announced plans to open her business this weekend in media published on Friday
She told The Age that her husband, a recently arrived Syrian immigrant, made the decision to open after being interviewed by right-wing media site Rebel News earlier in the week
Ms Najem said at least six clients had their hair cut before police threatened to arrest her and fined her $ 9,913, with the salon closing at 11 a.m.
Police say at least one other person was arrested and fined at the scene, but it is not known if this person was a client
« Victoria Police understand the difficulties many businesses currently face and have done everything possible to ensure that today’s case is resolved without a fine being imposed, » a door said -victoria police speech
« However, after repeated warnings and consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services, the owner of the business was fined $ 9,913 »
Ms Najem said she did not have a major problem with the nearly $ 10,000 fine, stating that she was committed to providing crowd-funded financial support for the costs of challenging the fine in court – but wouldn’t name which groups or individuals would pay her good
She also said she was offered free legal representation, but would not name who
The owner of the salon said she has no personal relationship with the founder of Rebel News, who conducts crowdfunding campaigns for a variety of anti-lockdown court challenges – including a challenge in the Supreme Court on behalf of an anti-lockdown protester submitted earlier this week
At least one person who came to the show on Saturday morning was holding a ‘Save Victoria’ banner, the slogan of another Rebel News crowdfunding campaign
Ms Najem said she was operating her salon in a COVID-secured manner, but did not require every customer to wear a mask
« They could do it if they wanted to, but I don’t think it’s my job to tell people what they should and shouldn’t do, » she said
It comes after a rebellious Berwick retailer pledged earlier this week to negotiate indefinitely, despite being fined nearly $ 10,000 after opening its men’s clothing store on Wednesday
Harry Hutchinson said he was fed up with the Melbourne State Government’s mandatory outlet lockdowns and therefore made his own decision to reopen his business, Harry’s Clothing
Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said on Saturday he hoped no more companies would follow in the wake of Berwick and Hughesdale’s examples, and urged business owners to be patient
« It is a challenge and yes it is painful, there are a lot of wounds and it will be necessary to heal, and there will be, in a budget which will be unprecedented in the scale and nature of the investments that we will do, « he said
M Andrews said he felt for business owners who said they « had to open » because they were out of money, but should « ring the bell (government hotlines state) and we’ll take care of you if we can «
« But if you want to fill your cashier by going against the rules, you’re going to be fined $ 10,000. The calculations for that don’t match, » Mr. Andrews
But Ms Najem said her business, which only opened three and a half weeks before the Stage Four lockdown began, was ineligible for any business aid and she felt that without a specific date for the reopening. retail since the government, and rising rents and bills, she had no choice but to open
« If there had been a date, we wouldn’t have done what we did, » she said « We have no hope, we see no glimmer of hope «
She said the family had been overwhelmed with support for the reopening, as people dropped off food, money and gifts for her children on Saturday
« We were inundated and we told people to come and make a walk-in appointment for the cuts, » Ms Najem said « The amount of support has been insane »
The couple, who have two young children, said they will decide tonight whether they will open again tomorrow and face further fines or police charges
The Victoria Police spokeswoman said the force « would like to congratulate the vast majority of Victorians who continue to abide by the restrictions »
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Melbourne, Hughesdale, Victoria, Lockdown, Coronavirus
World News – UA – Hughesdale salon owners fined $ 10,000 after opening
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
