Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a timeline for the easing of restrictions, with councils to play a significant role in their monitoring and compliance.
From 11.59pm on May 15, gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed in pools, public spaces and lagoons, parks, playground equipment, skateparks, outdoor gyms and libraries while a maximum of 20 people will be allowed indoors or 30 outdoors for funerals.
Outback Queensland has also been granted additional restriction easing, including dining for up to 20 people (locals) in restaurants, cafés, pubs, registered and licensed clubs, RSL clubs and hotels (must show proof of residence) with no bars or gaming, as well as recreational travel within a 500-kilometre radius if you live in the Outback.
From 11.59pm on June 12, gathering limits will be lifted to a maximum of 20 people for pools, public spaces and lagoons, parks, playground equipment, skateparks, outdoor gyms and libraries while a maximum of 50 people will be allowed to attend funerals. Recreational travel, camping and accommodation, including caravan parks (maximum 250 kilometres within your region) will also be allowed.
Outback Queensland has also been granted some extra restriction easing from 11.59pm on June 12, including dining for up to 50 people (locals) in restaurants, cafés, pubs, registered and licensed clubs, RSL clubs and hotels (must show proof of residence) with no bars or gaming, as well as recreational travel within the outback if you live in the outback.
From 11.59pm on July 10, gathering limits will be lifted to a maximum of 100 people for pools, public spaces and lagoons, parks, playground equipment, skateparks, outdoor gyms, libraries, funerals and other venues and businesses.
The full list of restrictions to be eased is provided below.
Importantly authorised council officers, including environmental health officers and compliance officers with their extensive enforcement experience, have been asked to lead the transition to the eased restrictions.
Council officers will be provided with emergency powers as emergency officers (general) to assist with this function.
The role of council officers will be to encourage compliance through education, where possible, with officers applying their own judgement and discretion in how they enforce compliance in accordance with the Chief Health Officer (CHO) directions and the individual health management plans developed by each business operation and kept onsite.
Council officers will also have the power to issue PINs if compliance through education cannot be achieved.
The State Penalty Enforcement Regulation has already been amended to allow local government to issue PINs.
A training module has been developed and will be provided for council officers over the next week to assist with providing the necessary information to complement and expand their existing compliance capabilities.
These extra controls do not override the need to operate safely, and do not preclude consideration of matters under the relevant legislation.
Full breakdown
Stage 1 – from 11.59pm on May 15
Family, friends and community
Gatherings in homes (max 5 visitors, allowed from separate households)
Gatherings of up to 10 people:
- outdoor, non-contact activity
- personal training
- pools (indoor and outdoor)
- public spaces and lagoons* (e.g. South Bank Parklands, Cairns, Airlie Beach etc)
- parks, playground equipment, skate parks and outdoor gyms
- libraries
- weddings
- hiking and other recreational activities in national and state parks
- places of worship and religious ceremonies
- Funerals (max 20 indoors or 30 outdoors)
- Recreational travel (max 150 kilometres within your region for day trips)
Businesses and economy
Retail shopping
10 people permitted at any one time for:
- dining in: restaurants, cafés, pubs, registered and licensed clubs, RSL clubs and hotels – no bars or gaming
- open homes and auctions
- beauty therapy and nail salons (with register of clients and COVID SAFE Plan)
Outback
Dining in: restaurants, cafés, pubs, registered and licensed clubs, RSL clubs and hotels (max 20) for locals only (must show proof of residence) – no bars or gaming
Recreational travel (500 kilometres within the Outback if you live in the Outback).
Stage 2 – from 11.59pm on June 12
Family, friends and community
Gatherings of up to 20 people:
- homes
- public spaces and lagoons (e.g. South Bank Parklands, Cairns, Airlie Beach etc)
- non-contact indoor and outdoor community sport
- personal training
- gyms, health clubs and yoga studios
- pools (indoor and outdoor) and community sports clubs
- museums, art galleries and historic sites
- weddings
- parks, playground equipment, skate parks and outdoor gyms
- libraries
- hiking, camping and other recreational activities in national and state parks
- places of worship and religious ceremonies
- Funerals (max 50)
- Recreational travel, camping and accommodation, including caravan parks (max 250kms within your region)
Businesses and economy
Retail shopping
20 people permitted at any one time for:
- dining in: restaurants*, cafés*, pubs*, registered and licensed clubs*, RSL clubs*, hotels* and casinos* – no bars or gaming
- indoor cinemas
- open homes and auctions
- outdoor amusement parks*, tourism experiences*, zoos* and arcades*
- concert venues*, theatres*, arenas*, auditoriums* and stadiums*
- beauty therapy, nail salons and spas (with register of clients and COVID SAFE Plan)
- School holidays – drive holiday in your region – Queenslanders backing Queensland > Tourism accommodation
Outback
Maximum 50 people dining in: restaurants*, cafés*, pubs*, registered and licensed clubs*, RSL clubs* and hotels* for locals only (must show proof of residence) – no bars or gaming Recreational travel (within the outback if you live in the outback).
Stage 3 – from 11.59pm on July 10
Subject to further planning and review, intrastate and interstate travel will be permitted and a maximum of 100 people will be permitted for:
- gatherings in public spaces and homes
- dining in: restaurants, cafés, pubs, registered and licensed clubs, RSL clubs, food courts and hotels
- indoor cinemas
- places of worship and religious ceremonies
- museums, art galleries and historic sites
- pools and community sports clubs
- community sport
- gyms, health clubs and yoga studios
- outdoor amusement parks, zoos and arcades
- concert venues, theatres, arenas, auditoriums and stadiums
- weddings
- funerals
- saunas and bathhouses
- open homes and auctions
- casinos, gaming and gambling venues
- pubs, registered and licensed clubs, RSL clubs and hotels
- nightclubs
- beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons and spas, tattoo parlours and non-therapeutic massage parlours
- libraries
- hiking, camping and other recreational activities in national and state parks.
Public health rules that must be mainlined throughout include:
- Physical distancing
- 4 square metres per person when indoors
- Hand hygiene
- Respiratory hygiene
- Frequent environmental cleaning and disinfection
More information is also available via: https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/government-actions/roadmap-to-easing-queenslands-restrictions
The Premier’s media release can be found here: http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2020/5/8/premier-maps-road-to-easing-restrictions