“From 11.59pm tomorrow night, Metropolitan Melbourne will move to most of the same settings currently in place across Regional Victoria, and Regional Victoria will move further towards further easing,” acting Premier James Merlino said.

For Metropolitan Victoria, stay at home requirements are removed and the travel limit has increased from 10km to 25km. No limit is in place for work, education, care or vaccine requirements. Face coverings are not required outdoors when physically distancing is possible, however masks must continue to be required indoors.

Offices can welcome back 25 per cent of staff or 10 people, whatever is greater. Hospitality can open for dine-in with a density limit of one person per four square metres to a cap of 100 people (50 inside). Retail and indoor entertainment venues can open with density limits, hairdressers, beauty and personal services can open for services where a mask can be worn, and outdoor physical recreation/sport permitted with maximum of 100 people.

However, indoor sport, gyms, pools and recreation remain closed, beauty services without a mask won’t be permitted and indoor private gatherings not permitted.

In regional Victoria, hospitality and entertainment density limits will increase, masks can come off indoors (including for beauty services) and indoor sport, gyms, pools and recreation can open.

A further summary of changes to metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria can be found below.

Mr Merlino also announced a further $2,000 top-up payment will be available to businesses in metropolitan Melbourne that are closed due to extended restrictions announced today. More information can be found on the Premier’s website.

The Government has indicated QR code check in will become compulsory for all workplaces, not just customer-facing businesses. The Victorian Chamber will consult with the government on implementation and requirements for businesses on our members’ behalf.

The Victorian Chamber welcomed the announcement on restrictions easing, however Chief Executive Paul Guerra said the state needs to open up further to help struggling businesses while also emphasising the importance of QR Codes.

“Today’s news is good but it’s not the snapback we were hoping for; we went fast in, but we are crawling out,” Mr Guerra said. “While most businesses across the state can now open, we need to see further easing of restrictions to enable all businesses to get back to viable trade as soon as possible to keep jobs, businesses, livelihoods, culture and prosperity alive in Victoria.

“It’s great to see Regional Victoria taking another step out of lockdown and the Victorian Chamber is advocating for the state to unite again quickly. Not every business in the state will be able to operate from tomorrow and some will continue to lose money every day until restrictions are eased further.

“We know our tourism sector will miss out this weekend, but we hope to see visitors return to the regions from next weekend and beyond.

“We need all Victorians and businesses to make sure that people are checking-in everywhere they go. The tick is the key to giving health officials greater confidence to allow us to open up even more. Let’s use that as motivation to accelerate our path out.”

Metro Melbourne versus regional Victoria restrictions

Key changes to metropolitan Melbourne restrictions from 11.59pm Thursday 10 June:

• Stay at home requirements removed, travel limit increased to 25km and masks no longer required outdoors when you can physically distance
• Office settings increase to capacity of 25 per cent of staff or 10 people, whatever is greater.
• Hospitality can open for dine-in with a density limit of one person per four square metres to a cap of 100 people (50 inside).
• Retail and indoor entertainment venues can open with density limits
• Hairdressers, beauty and personal services can open for services where a mask can be worn
• Outdoor sport and group fitness classes can run with a 10-person cap
• Schools resume
• Religious services (max 50 people), funerals (max 50 people) and weddings (max 10 guests) permitted
• Outdoor physical recreation/sport permitted with maximum of 100 people.

Key changes to regional Victoria restrictions from 11.59pm Thursday 10 June:

• Hospitality and entertainment density limits will increase
• Masks no longer permitted indoors (including for beauty services)
• Indoor sport, gyms, pools and recreation can open
• Private gatherings increase to two adults daily, public gatherings increase to 20 people

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.