Metropolitan Victoria’s new restrictions include indoor venues permitted to serve up to 300 people subject to density limit of one person per 4m2 with no group limit. Venues less than 600sqm can operate with lesser of density quotient of one person per 2m2 or venue cap of 150 patrons provided they have a COVID Check-in Marshal.

There will also be an increase of 15 visitors to your home and gatherings of 50 outdoors, and limits at weddings and funerals will increase to 300 people. The State Government will remove the work from home directive and office capacity increases to 75 per cent or 30 workers, whichever is greater. Masks must continue to be worn indoors.

Theatres will initially open at 50 per cent capacity, with up to 1000 people and crowds can attend public events and outdoor stadiums with a limit of 50 per cent, or up to 25,000 people.

“While it’s hard to know exactly what tomorrow might bring – Victorian families are relying on a little more certainty to help make those plans happen. Which is why today, we’re taking a big step forward so that every Victorian can get together and spend more time together,” acting Premier James Merlino said.

“These changes won’t just last a week – they’ll remain in place for at least two weeks’ time, meaning Victorians can plan and get back to doing the things they love.”

Mr Merlino also said those travelling to Victoria’s alpine region need to get tested prior departing Metropolitan Melbourne, especially if they’re staying overnight, for another week.

For Regional Victoria, key restrictions easing include no venue limit (but with density quotients applying) for religious gatherings, community facilities, gaming centres, and nightclubs. Hospitality venues can operate with a density quotient of one person per 2m2 when using a COVID Check-in Marshal, otherwise density quotient of one person per 4m2 applies.

Limits at weddings and funerals will increase to 300 people while the State Government will remove the work from home directive and some density quotients in other sectors have eased.

Victorian Chamber Chief Executive Paul Guerra said it doesn’t go far enough.

“We should be taking a giant leap tomorrow but instead we continue to limp out of restrictions, meaning our recovery will lag at a pace that is unacceptable with no virus circulating in the community,” Mr Guerra said.

“Today we were given complications when all we needed was to snapback to the restrictions that were in place prior to Lockdown Four. The State Government should remove the density limits for hospitality, events and entertainment and also remove the requirement for masks to be worn inside workplaces to ensure workers return to support businesses in the CBD, suburbs and regional towns.

“We need our globally famous events and hospitality sectors to be given the opportunity to operate at pre-lockdown conditions. It doesn’t make sense that from Friday, Victorians can get on a plane and fly to Queensland, Adelaide, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Auckland and enjoy more freedoms than they can have in their own state.”

Metropolitan Victoria versus Regional Victoria restrictions

Key changes to Metropolitan Victoria restrictions from 11.59pm Thursday 24 June:

• An increase of 15 visitors to your home and gatherings of 50 outdoors
• Limits at weddings and funerals increase to 300 people
• Indoor venues can serve up to 300 people subject to density limit of one person per 4m2. (Venues less than 600sqm can operate with lesser of density quotient of one person per 2m2 or venue cap of 150 patrons provided they have a COVID Check-in Marshal)
• The work from home directive will be removed and office capacity increased to 75 per cent or 30 workers, whichever is greater
• Higher education and training study from home requirement removed
• Masks must continue to be worn indoors
• Theatres will initially open at 50 per cent capacity, with up to 1000 people and crowds can attend public events and outdoor stadiums with a limit of 50 per cent, or up to 25,000 people.

Key changes to Regional Victoria restrictions from 11.59pm Thursday 24 June:

• Hospitality venues can operate with a density quotient of one person per 2m2 when using a COVID Check-in Marshal, otherwise density quotient of one person per 4m2 applies.
• Limits at weddings and funerals increase to 300 people
• No venue limit (but with density quotients applying) for religious gatherings, community facilities, gaming centres, and nightclubs
• The work from home directive is removed
• Higher education and training study from home requirement removed
• Some density quotients in other sectors have been eased

Help and support

For more information about what requirements are in place and what resources are available for your business, visit the Victorian Chamber’s COVID-19 resources page here.

As always, the most up-to-date information about restrictions are available on the Victoria Government’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) website. For information about how restrictions affect your business, visit the Business Victoria website.

If you, as an employer or an employer’s representative feel unsure about what your organisation has in place or would like help in putting a plan in place, please do not hesitate to contact the Victorian Chamber’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) team on 03 8662 5196.

Members can also call our Workplace Relations Advice Line on 03 8662 5222 to discuss their employment obligations and any issues that arise.