COVID-19 hospitality restrictions across Australia + NSW small business support

A number of states and territories have responded to the recent spread of COVID-19 across the country.

Many hospitality venues have been forced to pivot once again to takeaway and delivery, while others are open with limited capacity and density requirements.

Here are the current restrictions in place.

New South Wales

A stay-at-home order was issued on 26 June to Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, which will be in place until 11.59pm on Friday 9 July 2021.

Hospitality venues are only able to open for takeaway and delivery, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian encouraging contactless exchanges between customers and staff.

Many venues have made the decision to close for the two-week period, with others quickly bringing back 2020 take-home initiatives.

Premier Berejiklian has confirmed financial support is on the way for NSW businesses including an extension of the Dine and Discover voucher program and grants.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says the package is aimed at “keeping people in jobs” and “businesses in business” and is for the entire state, not just hot spots.

The NSW government will provide individual payments of $5,000 (turnover reduction of 30 per cent), $7,000 (turnover reduction of 50 per cent) and $10,000 (turnover reduction of 75 per cent) to small business.

The Small Business COVID-19 Support Grant is available to businesses and sole traders with a turnover of more than $75,000 per annum but below the NSW Government 2020 21 payroll tax threshold of $1,200,000 as at 1 July 2020. Businesses must have fewer than 20 full time equivalent employees. 

The Hospitality and Tourism COVID-19 Support Grant is available to tourism or hospitality businesses that have a turnover of more than $75,000 and an annual Australian wages bill of below $10 million, as at 1 July 2020.

An optional deferral of payroll tax payments due in July 2021 and the deferral of hotel June quarter gaming machine tax has also been announced, with the Chief Commissioner of State Revenue able to provide for appropriate repayment arrangements on a case by case basis.

The Dine and Discover program will be extended until the end of August. Food must be delivered direct to the home by the restaurant or café or picked up.

The Commonwealth Government will provide $500 per week for casual workers who have had their weekly hours reduced by 20 hours and $325 per week for those who have had their weekly hours reduced by less than 20 hours.

Queensland

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a three-day lockdown from 6pm 29 June until 6pm Friday for Southeast Queensland, Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island.

Stay-at-home orders apply to Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Somerset.

Venues will be restricted to takeaway and delivery.

“It’s time for us to act quickly and to act fast,” said the Premier.

On Tuesday, mandatory mask wearing was announced for much of the south-east of the state along with the 1 person per 4sqm rule.

“These are important measures we know will work because they have worked before,” said the Premier.

“I’m calling on everyone to wear a mask and help us stop the spread of this new strain and keep our community safe.”

Western Australia

Perth and Peel entered a four-day lockdown on 29 June after a case of the Delta variant was confirmed.

Restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars can provide takeaway services only.

“We now know we are dealing with the highly infectious and dangerous Delta strain, which is a new beast that has entered WA,” said WA Premier Mark McGowan.

“Escalating to an immediate lockdown will help us break the circuit and give contact tracers an opportunity to track and trace so we can get on top of this situation sooner.”

Northern Territory

The lockdown in place across the greater Darwin area will be extended for a further 72 hours until 1pm on Friday 2 July 2021.

This includes the Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield Council areas, and Wagait and Belyuen Shires.

Masks must be worn and hospitality venues are only able to offer takeaway and delivery.

South Australia

From midnight 29 June, masks will be mandatory for the next week.

Hospitality venues will be able to remain open for dine-in with a reduced capacity of 1 person per 2sqm.

Buffets are also banned and patrons will have to be seated in licensed venues.

“We are now at a critical point in the situation rolling out right across the country,” said Premier Steven Marshall.

“We hope this will be for a week — we don’t want to put any restrictions in place but we feel, given the nature of the rapid spread of the Delta virus, we have no alternative but to take action, pre-emptive action in South Australia, to keep our state and our economy strong.”

Australian Capital Territory

Face masks have been mandatory in a number of settings in the Australian Capital Territory from midnight 28 June.

There will be a 48-hour transition period for businesses and the community to adapt to the new requirements.

Staff in hospitality venues who have contact with patrons must wear a mask at all times.

Currently, venues are adhering to the 1 person per 2sqm rule.

There is no capacity limit for each space and patrons can stand while eating and drinking in indoor and outdoor spaces.

Victoria

Victorian venues are able to operate for dine-in according to capacity restrictions.

Hospitality venues in metropolitan Melbourne can open for seated service only.

Smaller venues can have up to 25 patrons before the density quotient applies.

Venues less than 600sqm can operate with lesser of density quotient of 1 per 2sqm or venue cap of 150 patrons provided they have a COVID check-in marshal.

There is a maximum patron cap of 300 per venue, but no group limits. The quotient of 1 person per 4sqm applies.

In food courts, there is no venue cap, however a density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm applies indoors and outdoors.

In regional Victoria, venues can open for seated service in line with a density quotient of 1 person per 2sqm when using a COVID check-in marshal.

If a venue does not have a marshal, the 1 person per 4sqm applies.

Smaller venues can have up to 25 patrons before the density quotient applies.

There is no density cap in food courts, but a density quotient of 1 person per 2qm applies indoors and outdoors.

Tasmania

Tasmanian venues are permitted to operate but must implement measures to meet the minimum COVID-19 safety standards and have a COVID-19 safety plan.

Patrons 16 years or older who attend a venue for at least 15 minutes are required to use the Check in TAS app.

Venues have a 1 person per 2sqm limit in place.

Standing and drinking alcohol and/or dancing is permitted in premises with a liquor licence or liquor permit up to a maximum of 100 people in indoor spaces and 250 people in outdoor spaces, within current density requirements.

Patrons in other parts of the premises or event can also consume alcohol while sitting down, subject to density requirements.

Image credit: Lifehacker