Updated: The latest on how coronavirus rules apply to bars as of Sunday morning

As bars head into Friday night trade tonight, there’s still much uncertainty as to what they can expect. Much of the governmental advice is emphasis the need for greater social distancing measures as a way to contain the coronavirus spread throughout the country — the so-called flattening the curve.

So where do we stand?

This week, we’ve published a number of stories related to the outbreak and how bars can get through this time (which you can see here), and a call from Olivia Rockwell for members of the hospitality community to call your local members and demand wage support and small business support for those in the industry — something we think is worth an email or phone call. Click here to read the story and fine the people to contact.

Here’s the latest we know as of Sunday morning, 22 March.

  • Both the Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC are reporting that the Prime Minister is set to unveil a $25 billion cash injection packages for small businesses today. The gist of it is, the government will hand out a tax-free cash payment of up to $100,000. This will be linked to the PAYG withholding businesses report in their BAS, as a means to incentivise businesses to keep workers on. Just what the government will announce for those businesses — like bars and restaurants — which are unable to stay open in a time of social distancing, remains to be seen. There is talk of a boost to the Newstart allowance for those who do lose their jobs.
  • Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announced on Saturday morning that businesses in that state will receive a full refund of payroll tax already paid for the current financial year, and will be waiving (not deferring) payroll tax for the next quarter, on businesses with payrolls of up to $3 million. No liquor licence fees will be paid by 12,000 Victorian venues due to pay them at the end of this month, as they have been waived in a move that will cost the government $30 million. The measures are designed to free up cash flow for small businesses. The payroll refunds are expected to be in businesses bank accounts by the end of next week. Read more on at the ABC here.
  • Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced a $25 million on Friday evening, to support Sydney businesses, with measures aimed at providing for rent relief their City of Sydney’s tenants, refunding venue and advertising fees for bookings with them, waiving outdoor dining fees, and “if restaurants, cafes and bars have space to put chairs and tables outside to maintain their service, we encourage them to do so. We will not charge them for use of the footpath, or fine them for not having a permit. We will continue to complete our necessary health and safety inspections, but we will not charge the regular fee,” she says.

  • The PM announced further guidelines on Friday afternoon for indoor gatherings of less than 100 people. For each person in a venue you’ll need to allow four square metres of space. So that means that if your bar has 100 square metres of space, you’ll have space for 25 people, according to the PM. Does that include staff? We imagine it does. The enforcement of these measures will be a matter for the states and territories.
  • The Victorian government has announced that bars and restaurants may be able to apply for a limited licence that allows them to do take away sales, though limits apply on just how much can sell to one person — see the statement on the Victorian government website here.
  • The Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Wednesday morning that there is a ban, effective immediately, on non-essential indoor gatherings of 100 or more people, in addition to the previously announced ban on non-essential gatherings on 500 and more people.
  • Not every bar has an online store through which to sell merch and vouchers; Burrow Bar’s Chau Tran has a solution for you (and a way to get help with it).

We’ll continue to update this post as we learn more tonight and over the weekend. In the meantime, we’re going to fix a drink.