Black-tie dining events to mark the reopening of Sydney after lockdown

Luke Mangan has sold out a dinner to mark the end of Covid restrictions, as the Premier promises the rules around unvaccinated patrons will be “black and white.”

Government lawyers are working to draft rules that will ban unvaccinated patrons and staff from hospitality venues when NSW begins to open up at 70 per cent double dose.

As anticipation grows around the state for a looming end to lockdowns, it comes amid a warning strict rules limiting travel for exercise and shopping will remain in place for people who aren’t vaccinated when restrictions are lifted.

Despite requiring new regulations to enforce the vaccination mandate, the state government did not get legal advice on its reopening road map before it was announced.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says there will be no “shares of grey” in the public health orders. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Officials are now drafting laws to enforce the vaccination requirement for people who want freedoms as early as mid-October. It came after hospitality heavyweights slammed the lack of clarity on who would enforce the vaccination requirement. Gladys Berejiklian said all staff and patrons would need to be fully vaccinated to enjoy hospitality and other freedoms in October.

“Everybody, every business leader, every community member, should be very clear that the health orders will be saying that you cannot go and do anything on the road map which is specified unless you are completely vaccinated,” the Premier said.

“That will be in law, it will be in a health order and there‘ll be no grey.

“It’s very black and white. It is a requirement that you are only allowed to enter any hospitality venue … or receive services like hairdressers etc if you are double dosed.

“At 70 per cent double dose, all staff and all patrons will need to be fully vaccinated.”

People who are not vaccinated will continue to be subjected to strict “stay at home” rules. These can include a ban on travelling more than 5km from home for exercise and shopping. Ms Berejiklian said plans had not been finalised for what would be allowed at 80 per cent.

“What our government is currently doing is working towards what 80 per cent looks like … that has not yet been made public because we‘re still working on it, ” she said.

She added her cabinet was mulling over whether occupancy rates could allow safe mingling of vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

“Do you want … 100 per cent of a venue to be occupied? If you do, that’s great but that means probably you’ll need vaccination,” she said. “Although if you want 75 per cent of a venue occupied, you might be able to rely on social distancing and other measures.”

Neil Perry says he is “very excited” to hear the government’s plan. Picture: Nikki Short

Celebrity chef Luke Mangan is hosting some black tie events when restrictions ease. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The hospitality sector has previously expressed its concern the government had not provided specific advice on what the end of lockdown would look like.

Chef Neil Perry has been among the most vocal community members pushing the government to provide more clarity and said he was “very excited” to hear the plan.

“A measured, well structured opening by the ­government is important. (It is) great to have clarity,” he said.

Meanwhile, fellow chef Luke Mangan is ready to get the party started.

Mangan will kick off a series of black tie events as soon as Covid restrictions are eased.

He sold out 140 seats for a function at his Glass Brasserie restaurant on October 20 in just 20 minutes and has already added a second event.