Like hundreds of thousands of businesses around Australia, Darwin eatery Good Thanks' owner Alex James has watched his world turn upside down this week as his right to open was taken from him.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The popular burger and beer venue had to stop taking dine-in customers after the federal government's edict on Sunday to shut down anywhere that crowds congregated in a bid to control the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr James says he is trying to quickly adjust and keep his CBD business alive, and that "we've overhauled our entire business model with a day's notice".
Businesses such as Good Thanks previously had earned only a small amount from takeaway food but now, with all restaurants being forced to close, it represents 100 per cent of its revenue.
He will be ending his relationship with UberEats this week because the 35 per cent commission the global company takes is too high.
They are transitioning to doing their own in-house deliveries using their existing seven staff.
"We are trying to keep as many of our own employed, repurposing them as Uber drivers," Mr James told AAP.
"The more we can do to help our friends and families and other workers who are facing this is better for everyone in the long run.
"I think anyone that can adapt and adapt quickly are probably going to be the ones to see it through," he said.
The Darwin CBD Centrelink office is about 100 metres from Good Thanks and has had lines of people out the front all week as many became unemployed due to the severe restrictions imposed by the government.
Dukes Cafe owner David Cameron told AAP a man had come in during the week and spent $400 on coffees for people queuing up.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the fact that businesses such as Good Thanks were adjusting should give people hope at a difficult time.
Mr Gunner said it was a difficult thing to see people "who don't know where their next dollar is coming from".
He said he had been emotionally affected by a caller on talkback radio this week who said he had felt humiliated queuing at Centrelink.
"It is not your fault, our country is going through a massive shockwave right now," he said.
"I am sorry that some decisions have seen people go out of work and I hope everyone knows we have made those decisions seriously and with deep consideration about how we can save lives; that is at the heart of this and drives national cabinet.
"There will be jobs available on the other side in six months and the Northern Territory will still be there in six months."
Australian Associated Press
