Covid-19: What you can and can’t do in Australia if you are not fully vaccinated
As states and territories reach their vax targets, the unvaccinated are being locked out depending on where they are. See list of rules.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As Covid vaccination rates around the country continue to rise, more freedoms are being awarded to those that took the jab.
Going out for dinner and drinks or catching a show at the theatre if you are not fully vaccinated all depends on which part of Australia you are in.
The rules keep changing as vax targets are met. This is what we know to date:
QUEENSLAND
The Palaszczuk government has finalised its vaccine mandate as Queensland prepares to fling open its borders.
Travellers will be allowed to enter the state from December 13, four days earlier than the original opening date, but the mandatory vaccine policy to enter nearly all venues and public spaces will still come into effect from December 17.
The state government’s vaccine mandate had provided more questions than answers in previous weeks but Health Minister Yvette D’Ath clarified the policy by releasing a health directive on December 7.
Those who work or visit hospitals, schools, child care centres, prisons and hospitality venues will need to be vaccinated from December 17.
However, the mandate does not apply to essential services such as supermarkets, retail stores, public transport, places of worship and funerals.
Ms D’Ath said unvaccinated people can attend weddings so long as the wedding has 20 people or less.
“December 17 is going to be a great day for so many people in Queensland who will get to go out and enjoy the lifestyle that we love so much,” Ms D’Ath told reporters.
“They will be able to go there knowing that they’ve done the right thing by getting vaccinated and that they’re walking into a venue where everyone else is vaccinated as well.
“It also means that these venues are going to be able to operate at 100 per cent capacity for the first time in many months.”
VICTORIA
Daniel Andrews has extended the lockout of the unvaccinated throughout 2022.
Anyone that is not fully vaccinated cannot:
• attend all hospitality and entertainment venues, including restaurants, cafes, cinemas, casinos and nightclubs
• enter non-essential retail, including department stores
• go to major events, such as festivals and concerts
• join major sporting events, such as the Boxing Day Test
• visit hairdressing, beauty and personal care
• enter physical recreation and sporting facilities, including gyms, saunas and swimming pools (vaccination requirements don’t apply to people using swimming pools for essential medical care)
• visit creative and community facilities, such as a library
• be at venues such as amusement parks, escape rooms, arcades, electronic gaming and bingo centres
• enter brothels and sexually explicit venues
• take part in tours and tour transport, such as a tour bus or walking tour
• sit in at on-site learning (adult education)
• return to the office or on-site work
• travel interstate without having to quarantine
Anyone that is not fully vaccinated can:
• attend a wedding or funeral of fewer than 50 people if vaccination status is not being checked;
• enter essential retail venues, such as a supermarket, bottle shop and pharmacy but barred from all other non-essential retail;
• participate in and watch community sport. However, unvaccinated Victorians will be locked out from most major events and indoor venues;
• take part in a real estate inspection and auctions organised by private appointment only.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Once 90 per cent of South Australians are fully vaccinated borders will re-open to all fully vaccinated domestic and international arrivals, unvaccinated arrivals will require 14 days quarantine.
Restrictions on most activities will be lifted but high-risk activities will only be available for people who are fully vaccinated (for example: nightclubs, standing alcohol consumption).
SA Premier Steven Marshall has previously said he is “very satisfied” with the state’s vaccination rates and is “very loathe” to mandate vaccines. Instead he is leaving it up to businesses to decide.
However vaccination is compulsory across a range of industries including healthcare, SA Police, education and childcare.
For now, anyone that is not fully vaccinated cannot:
• leave the country and re-enter unless they have an exemption
• attend large events (1000+), nightclub and casinos even when the state reaches the 90 per cent vax rate
• visit aged care
• attend concerts and events at Cooper Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Adelaide Convention Centre
• attend Adelaide Zoo or Monarto Zoo
• attend WOMADelaide (March 11-14)
• enter Netball SA Stadium if they are aged 16 and over from December 11
• attend Athletics SA competitions if they are over 12 or participate in or attend competitions if they are over 16 from December 11
The unvaccinated can:
• attend Adelaide Festival (March 4-20)
• attend Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s six ticketed outdoor evening concerts at Adelaide Showground
Sky City Adelaide Casino says it is following the state’s Covid rules. It has voiced its support for mandated Covid vaccination across the entire sector.
On Wednesday, the casino said it had “always strongly supported the vaccination of its staff and customers”.
“SkyCity Adelaide continues to operate as we have done for the past year, delivering the most robust health and safety standards and adhering to all guidelines, such as mandating QR check-in, mask wearing and social distancing.
“SkyCity is following the latest government and SA Health advice, and like the vast majority of our industry, we would fully support mandating Covid vaccination across the hospitality sector.”
Also Summersalt Music Festival in Glenelg (March 20) does not require proof of vaccination for patrons but the promoter says that may change and they will follow the state government and SA Health mandates on vaccination requirements for large concerts and events at the time of the show.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Anyone can freely attend entertainment venues, such as cinemas, theatres, stadiums, nightclubs, zoos and amusement parks; community and recreation centres, play centres and public libraries; hospitality including cafes and restaurants; accommodation including hotels, caravan parks, and camping sites; schools and childcare; no limits to indoor and outdoor gatherings. But checking in is required wherever you go.
Travel is banned for all unvaccinated people except for children under 12, returning Territorians or those with an exemption for personal or compassionate grounds.
Unvaccinated Territory residents travelling from a green zone will still be able to enter the NT but will be required to travel to a suitable place of quarantine, get tested for Covid-19 and remain in quarantine until a negative test is returned.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Vaccination is compulsory across a range of industries covering affecting about 1.1m workers or 75 per cent of the state’s workforce. Employers face fines of up to $100,000 if they don’t comply. Individual employees face fines of up to $20,000.
Once WA has reached 90 per cent double dose vaccination for people aged 12 and over, some additional public health measures will be put in place. This is expected to happen around late January to early February 2022.
Proof of vaccination will be required for large events with more than 1000 people attending, and at nightclubs and casinos.
Fully vaccinated people will be able to enter WA without quarantine from interstate. Unvaccinated will not be permitted unless they have a medical exemption or are under 12.
International arrivals that are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter without quarantine. Unvaccinated residents will be allowed to return but will have to undertake 14 days supervised quarantine at their own expense.
NSW
Restrictions will ease further when NSW reaches 95 per cent double vaccination or on 15 December 2021, whichever comes first. Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, will enjoy similar freedoms.
For now, some workers are required to have a Covid-19 vaccination to go to work. Workers who are aged under 16 and who are not fully vaccinated may continue to go to work.
When eligible businesses began to reopen, vaccination rules have applied for staff and customers aged 16 years and over.
These vaccination rules for business apply to:
• Entertainment facilities, such as theatres, cinemas, and music or concert halls
• Recreation facilities, such as stadiums, show grounds, racecourses and motor racing tracks
• Hospitality venues, such as cafes, restaurants, or pubs
• Places where a wedding, funeral, or memorial service is held (except for small weddings, small funerals, or small memorial services)
• Hairdressers, spas, nail salons, beauty salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlours or massage parlours.
• Indoor recreation facilities, such as gyms, indoor pools, squash club, tennis centre, bowling alley, or ice rink.
• Public swimming pools
• Information and education facilities, such as a museum, art gallery, library or visitor information centre
• Retail premises other than critical retail premises.
• Auction houses
• Betting agencies
• Gaming lounges
• Markets that do not predominantly sell food
• Properties operated by the National Trust, or the Historic Houses Trust
ACT
There is no requirement to show proof of vaccination when entering a business in the ACT.
Fully vaccinated travellers entering the ACT from interstate can freely enter.
Unvaccinated travellers entering from interstate may also enter. However, if they have been in a high-risk geographical area they will only be allowed to enter the ACT for essential reasons.
Unvaccinated ACT residents can return home subject to conditions.
International travellers first need to follow the requirements of the jurisdiction of their port of entry to Australia and then if allowed into the ACT, complete three-day home quarantine.
Unvaccinated international travellers who are aged 18 years and over will be required to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine period at their port of entry.
For unvaccinated international travellers aged 12 to 17 years travelling unaccompanied or with a vaccinated parent or guardian, a 7-day quarantine period will apply. This applies even if the quarantine period for the vaccinated parent or guardian is 3 days.
TASMANIA
Tasmania is expected to reach 90 per cent double dose coverage of those aged 12 and older by December 15 when the state’s borders reopen.
Vaccinated entry applies to:
• Pubs, nightclubs, bars and events such as music festivals where people are freely mixing and moving
• Customers and staff (from December 15) including performers
• Licensed events of more than 250 indoors and 500 outdoors with either a licence to permit to serve alcohol
• Where venues have multiple areas separated by a wall, vaccinated entry is only required for entry into the bar section of the venue
• Where venues change from seated service to bar service during the course of the day, vaccinated entry is not required where seated service only applies
Vaccinated entry does not apply to:
• Guests attending weddings and funerals
• Restaurants, cafes and clubs (like RSL and community sports clubs
• Licensed venues where all patrons are required to be seated at all times
• Cinemas and seated stadiums
• Children aged under 12
• Delivery people, tradespeople and cleaners
• A person with a medical exemption
• Travellers over the age of 12 years and two months and older entering the state will be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have an approved medical exemption
• Unvaccinated travellers aged 12 years and two months and older, will be required to apply for approval to enter Tasmania. If approved they will be directed to quarantine
- with NewsWire, staff writers
More Coverage
State’s big move on cutting-edge vaccines
One Aussie state has revealed its next move on a major vaccine development project – which promises to change the way it responds to future health challenges.
Read more
$1.1m plan to overhaul Long Covid, chronic fatigue care
Guidelines to treat the 750,000-plus Australians who have Long Covid and chronic fatigue syndrome are more than two decades old. See the plan to fix them.
Read more