All of Canberra's Labor Club venues have been closed for the foreseeable future, as coronavirus continues to impact the ACT's pubs and clubs sector.
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The club said it would close the Canberra Labor Club in Belconnen and the Ginninderra Labor Club until further notice due to the delay in implementation of stage three coronavirus restrictions.
Stage 3 restrictions were meant to come into effect on July 10 but were postponed due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases in Victoria and NSW.
The third stage of restrictions would have meant the reintroduction of pokies and casinos in ACT venues.
The Canberra and Ginninderra Labor Clubs had only reopened to the public in mid-June following an industry-wide shutdown due to COVID-19.
The Labor Club's other venues in Civic and Weston Creek have remained closed since the start of the pandemic.
"The health and safety of our employees, members and community is our main focus, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to all our venues when stage three restrictions in the ACT are introduced," the club said in a Facebook post announcing the closure.
Canberra Labor Club was contacted for comment.
The closure of the two Labor Club venues comes as those in the industry say further club closures are on the cards due to the high operating costs and no revenue coming in from gaming.
After reopening to the public several weeks ago, Canberra Southern Cross Club said it would not open its doors to any of its four venues on Mondays and Tuesdays due to the delay in easing restrictions.
The club's chief executive Ian Mackay said it was a difficult decision to close the club two days a week after reopening just weeks ago.
"We stayed opened predominantly throughout the changes in the restrictions but it has become too difficult to justify that financially," Mr Mackay said.
"It was particularly difficult with not knowing a fortnight at a time whether we will be able to be open or not."
Permanent staff at the Southern Cross Club venues have had their hours cut by 40 per cent.
Mr Mackay said the clubs would be able to reopen to seven days a week within 24 hours' notice once restrictions were eased.
However, he hit out at the differences in restrictions over the border in NSW, where pokies and gaming in pubs and clubs had been able to resume.
"It's a very difficult for us to grapple with the economic reality of the restrictions not being eased to stage 3, and there's the perceived inconsistency of what's occurring only a few minutes away [in NSW]," Mr Mackay said.
"I could imagine it would be difficult for every single club in the ACT, and we can only hope the pause is lifted and things improve."
Chief executive of ClubsACT Gwyn Rees said with gaming accounting for a large share of the revenue for venues to assist with operating costs, further closures of venues were potentially on the cards.
"Clubs are going backwards rather than forwards," he said.
"If clubs can't open without gaming, many will go back into hibernation."
Mr Rees said some clubs were seeking professional advice as to their financial situation on whether they were able to remain open.