Western Australia is continuing its leading position as its roadmap to the complete removal of all COVID-19 restrictions will enter Phase Four on Saturday, 27 June.
As of 12am on Saturday all existing gathering limits and the state’s 100/300 will be removed and gathering limits will be only determined by one person per two square metres.
Other changes include:
- Removal of seated service requirements at food businesses and licensed premises
- No requirement to maintain patron register at food businesses and licensed premises
- Alcohol can be served as part of unseated service arrangements
- All events permitted except for large scale, multi-stage music festivals
- Unseated performances permitted at venues such as concert halls, live music venues, bars, pubs and nightclubs
The WA Government said: “Western Australians must continue to keep up physical distancing where possible and maintain good personal hygiene to better protect themselves and the general health of our community.
“WA businesses will be expected to ensure their COVID Safety Plans are updated and continue to be implemented.
“COVID Safety plans help mitigate the risk of COVID-19, are in line with health advice and provide extra confidence to patrons and staff entering the business premises.”
Australian Hotels Association (WA) CEO Bradley Woods, welcomed the State Government’s announcement on the changes.
“WA Premier Mark McGowan and his Government are to be congratulated for achieving a world-class outcome for the state,” Woods said.
“The success WA has enjoyed in containing the spread of COVID-19 places the state in the lead at relaxing restrictions and returning our industry to normal, sooner than expected.
“The removal of capacity restrictions will see many venues able to trade at a level that is almost back to normal and secure many more thousands of jobs.
“Scrapping the requirement to maintain a patron register and removing seated requirements while eating or drinking is a major step in the right direction and will free up venues and their staff.
“The ability to restart live music events and facilitate unseated performances is welcome relief for many venues and the broader entertainment industry.
“WA’s hospitality venues have played a leading role in containing COVID-19 but it has come at a heavy cost – today’s announcement of Phase 4 restrictions will be warmly welcomed by WA’s hotels, bars, pubs, restaurants and taverns, who can now operate in a far more viable way.”
Depending on infection rates locally, Phase 5 is planned to be introduced on Saturday, July 18 (effective from 11.59pm Friday, July 17) and will result in the removal of the two square metre rule.
