Today Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed a new Roadmap to Easing Queensland's Restrictions during October, November and December with a Stage 4, 5 and 6 plan.
- Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed a new Stage 4, 5 & 6 Roadmap to Easing Queensland’s restrictions including from 4pm TODAY unseated eating and drinking will be allowed in venues (inside and outside)
- From November 1 the NSW border will reopen and up 40 people will be allowed to dance at weddings with a COVID Safe Plan
- From December 1 unlimited dancing at weddings with a COVID Safe Plan
It's welcomed news for our community, particularly our local hospitality and tourism businesses, that from 4pm today (October 2) unseated drinking and eating will come into effect.
This is something that collectively, Townsville Enterprise, Townsville Chamber of Commerce and our hospitality and business community have been strongly advocating for, and we acknowledge the Premier and Chief Health Officer who heeded these calls to listen. The new roadmap gives more certainty to the community and businesses through to the end of this year by outlining monthly easing of restrictions.
We do understand however that this plan will mean that many of our businesses will still be not be operating as freely as possible and we will continue our advocacy, particularly in regard to the 1 person per 2 sqm rule expanded to indoor areas for regions like Townsville and North Queensland which have not experienced a case of community transmission.
The Chief Health Officer has noted this morning that "there is always chances" to reopen borders and ease further restrictions sooner which we have seen occur across the stage 1, 2 and 3 roadmap.
Further announcements in the new roadmap include that if there is no unlinked community transmission in NSW for 28 days, Stage 5 could start from 1am 1 November and will see the Queensland border open up to NSW visitors and return travellers, while also increasing public gatherings to 40 people, and allowing up to 40 people to dance at a wedding with a COVID Safe Plan.
Stage 6, anticipated from 1am 1 December, will see public gatherings increase to 50 people, increased attendances at outdoor events and no restrictions on people dancing at weddings.
The Queensland border will remain closed to Victoria until community transmission is under control.
Stage 4 of the Roadmap started at 1am yesterday by extending the Northern NSW border zone and easing the density rule for outdoor venue areas to 1 person per 2 sqm, as well as the government also announcing a 'Summertime Taskforce' will be established to identify more outdoor opportunities.
