As new updates and rising vaccinations rates continue to shift the goalposts, we’ve put together an updated list of the relevant restrictions currently still in place for states across the country.
Last updated: 13 September 2021
Jump to:
New South Wales
Announced on Thursday 9 September, stay-at-home orders for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be lifted from the Monday after NSW passes the 70 per cent double vaccination target, under the roadmap to freedom.
Once the 70 per cent mark is hit, some restrictions will be loosened for the events industry including:
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
- Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
- Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
But until that milestone is reached, for both the Greater Sydney region and certain regional and rural areas of New South Wales, entertainment facilities, such as theatres, cinemas, music halls, concert halls and dance halls are closed. If you are in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour and certain regional and rural areas, you must not participate in an outdoor public gathering of more than two people.
As of 12:01am Saturday 11 September, certain regional and rural areas of New South Wales (please see the complete list of areas here) have emerged out of lockdown. The following restrictions will apply only to those areas out of lockdown:
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
- Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
- Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
Currently anyone who has been to Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour will not be allowed to enter the following states unless they are an essential traveller or have an exemption: Queensland, South Australia, Australia Capital Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
As of Sunday 12 September, New South Wales has 45.6% of their eligible population fully vaccinated while 78.1% have had their first dose.
For more information on the restrictions in New South Wales, click here.
Victoria
Metropolitan Melbourne and Greater Shepparton are in lockdown. In Metropolitan Melbourne and Greater Shepparton, theatres, cinemas, music halls, concert halls, auditoriums, galleries, museums, the State Library, arenas, stadiums, amusement parks and convention centres are all closed. All public events are suspended, unless approved to proceed with no spectators by the Chief Health Officer.
As of 11.59pm on Thursday 9 September, lockdown was lifted from regional Victoria. Restrictions for the events industry include the following:
- Fixed seating entertainment venues can open with up to 20 people per indoor space.
- Outdoor entertainment spaces (seated or non-seated) can open with up to 25 percent venue capacity or up to 300 people per space, whichever is lesser, excluding workers. Venues are required to request that patrons check in using the Service Victoria QR code app.
- Non-seated indoor venues can open with up to 20 people per space provided the limit of 1 person per 4 square metres is met.
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are banned from entering Victoria unless granted an exemption. Travellers from all other states in Australia must apply for a permit to enter Victoria.
As of Sunday 12 September, Victoria has 40.5% of their eligible population fully vaccinated while 65.5% have had their first dose.
For more information on the restrictions in Victoria, click here.
Queensland
The following restrictions for events apply to all of Queensland and came into force from 4pm Friday 10 September:
- 100% allocated seated and ticketed for stadiums
- Patrons must wear a mask at all times, including when seated.
- Patrons must be seated to eat and drink. Masks can be removed when eating or drinking.
- 100% allocated seated and ticketed capacity for indoor events or 1 person per 2m squared indoors.
- No restrictions on outdoor events, however you are encouraged to wear a mask when you are unable to physically distance.
- Ticketed venues: 100% capacity with allocated seating (e.g. theatre, live music, cinemas, indoor sports, universities and other higher education institutions).
The Queensland border is closed to anyone who has been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days or since the start date identified for the hotspot (whichever is shorter), except for a limited range of people who can enter for essential purposes. All of New South Wales and Victoria are declared hotspots.
As of Sunday 12 September, Queensland has 37.7% of their eligible population fully vaccinated while 56% have had their first dose.
For more information on the restrictions in Queensland, click here.
Western Australia
There are no longer any capacity restrictions for venues and events. This means that events, such as concerts and sporting games can go ahead at full capacity.
Measures still remain in place to keep these events safe including requiring a COVID safety plan and maintaining a contact register. Events with more than 500 patrons are required to complete a COVID event checklist or plan.
New South Wales is classified as an extreme risk, Victoria is classified as high risk and the ACT is classified as medium risk and travellers are not permitted to enter Western Australia without an approval through G2G PASS.
As of Sunday 12 September, Western Australia has 37.6% of their eligible population fully vaccinated while 56.5% have had their first dose.
For more information on the restrictions in Western Australia, click here.
Northern Territory
Events less than 500 in attendance located inside a major population centre do not require completion of a checklist or safety plan, however the physical distancing and hygiene principles should still be considered and implemented.
Events with 500 to 1000 people in attendance inside a major population centre do require completion of a checklist or safety plan. Further to this the organiser of the event must appoint a COVID-19 Safety Supervisor and display a QR code or alternate method of checking in.
Events with 1000 or more people in attendance located inside a major population centre must submit a COVID-19 event safety plan and receive formal approval from the Chief Health Officer prior to the event proceeding. Further to this the organiser of the event must appoint a COVID-19 Safety Supervisor and display a QR code or alternate method of checking in.
If your event is outside a major population centre, you may still be required to comply with other legislative requirements and processes that are relevant to holding events. To find out more and if you are located inside a major population centre, click here.
New South Wales, ACT and Victoria are declared hotspots for the purpose of travel to the Northern Territory. Entry into the Northern Territory is not permitted from current hotspots or public exposure sites unless you are a returning resident.
As of Sunday 12 September, the Northern Territory has 43.8% of their eligible population fully vaccinated while 59.9% have had their first dose.
For more information on the restrictions in the Northern Territory, click here.
South Australia
The following restrictions are in place for events:
- 3 person per 4 square metres (for seated activities)
- No communal consumption facilities
- 1 person per 2 square metres (for non-seated activities)
- Seated food and beverage consumption only
- CMP: events of more than 1 000 people
- Masks for shared indoor public places
- Restrictions on dancing and singing
Travellers arriving from the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and New South Wales are currently prohibited from entering South Australia, except for essential travellers and some permitted arrivals.
As of Sunday 12 September, South Australia has 40.1% of their eligible population fully vaccinated while 58.7% have had their first dose.
For more information on the restrictions in South Australia, click here.
Tasmania
The maximum number of people permitted to attend events or gatherings without having to apply for approval under the Framework for COVID-19 Safe Events and Activities is 250 people in an undivided space indoors and 1,000 people in an undivided space outdoors.
The maximum density rule of two square metres per person applies. If the number of people permitted according to the density limit is less than the gathering limit, the lower number applies.
Operators of entertainment venues can apply to increase patron numbers above 250 people (indoors) or 1,000 people (outdoors) through the Framework for COVID-19 Safe Events and Activities. Operators of stadiums and arenas can apply to increase attendance numbers to the number of seats provided.
- For indoor events without seating, the restriction is no more than one person per two square metres of space, and no more than 1,000 people.
- For indoor seated events, the restriction is one person per two square metres in all unseated areas, but no more than 2,000 people.
- For outdoor events without seating, the restriction is no more than one person per two square metres of available space, but no more than 5,000 people.
- For outdoor seated events, the restriction is one person per two square metres in all unseated areas, but no more than 10,000 people.
To help manage risks, there must be a COVID contact person for every event or venue, a COVID-19 Safety Plan must be used at all events and venues and the event organiser (or contact person) must be ready to present the COVID-19 Safety Plan to an authorised officer immediately on request. Everyone at an event or venue must maintain at least 1.5 metres distancing between themselves and other people, whenever possible and information must be collected to support rapid contact tracing if required.
Travellers who have spent time in a high-risk area within Australia, which currently includes New South Wales, ACT, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria in the 14 days before arriving in Tasmania are not permitted to enter Tasmania, unless approved as an essential traveller.
As of Sunday 12 September, Tasmania has 48.2% of their eligible population fully vaccinated while 65.9% have had their first dose.
For more information on the restrictions in Tasmania, click here.
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT is in lockdown until midnight Friday 17 September 2021.
Performance venues, cinemas and theatres, concert venues, auditoriums and performance halls, conference and convention venues are all closed. Any event that has been previously organised will not be permitted to go ahead.
Travellers entering the ACT from Victoria and New South Wales will not be allowed to enter unless they have an exemption.
As of Sunday 12 September, the Australian Capital Territory has 50.1% of their eligible population fully vaccinated while 73.7% have had their first dose.
For more information on the restrictions in the Australian Capital Territory, click here.
Overseas Travel
Regarding overseas travel, unfortunately quarantine-free travel to New Zealand from all Australian states and territories has been suspended for now. There is also currently a ban on all overseas travel from Australia, unless granted an exemption.
Photo: Martin Sanchez
