While Australia has slowly begun reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, government leaders announced this week that more lifts will continue from Monday, June 1. It still remains up to each state and territory on exactly what they will open, but below we’ve outlined some of the key changes happening.
What you need to know…
New South Wales
- Beauty salons will reopen with a max of 10 clients. We’ve collated a list of the best Sydney brow salons to book now
- Restaurants, pubs and cafes will open with a max of 50 patrons, who will have to adhere to a four-square metre rule. There will be no bookings of more than 10 people
- Residents will be allowed to holiday anywhere in the state
- Museums, galleries and libraries will open, subject to the four-square metre rule
- You will be allowed 5 people from different households to visit, and there is no limit on the number of guests you can have over in a single day. Guests will also be allowed to stay overnight
- The rule of 10 people at a public gathering remains
- Drive-in cinemas will be allowed to operate. Here’s where and what films are playing
Victoria
- 20 people will be allowed to gather in the home (inclusive of the members of that household)
- Restaurants, cafes and pubs (just dining areas) will be open for up to 20 patrons. Venues will also be required to keep the first name and phone number of every customer to help with contact tracing
- Hotels, motels, camping and caravan parks will be open
- Indoor and outdoor pools will reopen with a limit of 3 people per lane
- 20 people will be allowed to play an outdoor sport
- Drive-in cinemas will be allowed to operate. Here’s where and what films are playing
- Community facilities (museums, galleries, libraries) will reopen with a maximum of 20 people per space, adhering to a four-square metre rule
- Beauty salons can reopen with up to 20 patrons subject to social distancing
South Australia
- Cinemas, theatres, galleries and museums will be allowed to reopen with a max of 20 people adhering to social distancing
- Beauty salons will be allowed to reopen under the four-square metre rule
- Gyms and fitness studios will reopen for up to 20 people
- Pubs will be allowed to reopen, but all patrons must be seated
- All non-contact sport allowed to resume
- There are no restrictions on travel within South Australia, but anyone entering the state will have to quarantine for 14 days. Some Aboriginal communities across the state have chosen to close access to their townships and lands to non-essential outside visitors
Queensland
Many of the below changes do not come into effect until June 12th:
- Restaurants, cafes, pubs, RSL clubs and hotels (within the COVID-Safe Checklist) can seat up to 10 patrons at any one time, as long as they can allow four-square metres
- Residents will be allowed to take trips up to 150km for recreational purposes. Entry into Queensland is prohibited unless you have applied for and been granted an exemption (expected to lift on July 10th)
- Up to 10 people allowed in select beauty salons, by appointment
ACT
- Up to 10 people are allowed to gather at home, including children and those living in the hosting household
- Gatherings of up to 10 people outdoors will be allowed
- Restaurants, cafes and other venues offering seated dining can host up to 10 patrons
- There is no limit on where an ACT resident can travel and no border restrictions coming into the state
- Beauty salons remain closed
Tasmania
- All non-essential travellers to Tasmania, including returning residents, must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, and there remains no limit on where residents of the state can travel
- Restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs and RSLs will be allowed up to 10 patrons adhering to the four-square metre rule
- Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed outside
- Households will be allowed up to 5 visitors
Northern Territory
From June 5:
- Bars and clubs will be allowed to operate without food being compulsory
- Cinemas and other entertainment venues allowed to re-open, with social distancing rules in place
- Beauty salons will reopen
- There is no limit on how many people can gather indoors or outdoors, but social distancing must apply
- Unless you have been granted an exemption, anyone entering the Northern Territory must complete 14 days of mandatory quarantine
Western Australia
- Up to 20 people are allowed to gather publicly and privately
- Entertainment venues (cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels, clubs) can seat up to 20 diners
- You cannot enter Western Australia unless you are granted an exemption on application
It’s important to note that all changes and restrictions are still up to government regulations.