Prime Minister Scott Morrison is backing a ‘bolder’ reopening in Victoria

With business chiefs pleading for a clearer roadmap, Scott Morrison says Victoria should follow the lead of NSW as freedom day arrives for weary Melburnians.

Industry groups are demanding the state government immediately reveal when all Covid restrictions will end, as Scott Morrison encourages Victoria to follow New South Wales by unveiling a path to freedom.

Business chiefs are calling on Daniel Andrews to “show empathy” for struggling companies and families uncertain about what rules will remain when full vaccination rates soar above 90 per cent by the middle of next month.

Stavros Manavakis and George Leveque getting ready to let customers in after a long lockdown. Picture: Tony Gough

Chapelli's in South Yarra opened at midnight. Picture: Tony Gough

Nine out of ten Victorians aged over 16 have already received one jab, providing world-leading protection as the state reaches the 70 per cent double-dose rate and its sixth lockdown ends.

In an interview with the Herald Sun, the Prime Minister encouraged greater transparency about the road ahead, saying it was important for Victorians to have certainty.

“That’s not a prescription, but I think as a principle, it’s a very sound one,” he said.

Under the state’s current plan, tight restrictions will continue even when 80 per cent of Victorians are fully vaccinated, including a 10-person limit for home gatherings, 150-patron caps at venues and hospitality density limits. Employees will be advised to continue working from home if they can and masks will be required in indoor settings.

The national plan’s final phase includes reopening the international border and minimising Covid cases “without ongoing restrictions”, but state and federal leaders are yet to agree on a threshold for moving to this stage.

Joey Scandizzo Salon does a midnight haircut on Sarah-Jane Gravin at his South Yarra salon. Picture: Tony Gough

Bride Amanda Thorpe and Groom Keith Ing with sons Dylan (19), Bailey (14) and Ryder the dog, married at 11.59pm. Picture: Tony Gough

Mr Morrison revealed phase D of the plan would merge with phase C, which is triggered at the 80 per cent vaccination threshold, pointing to how NSW was pushing ahead with plans to welcome overseas students and skilled migrants.

He said states would progress at different times depending on vaccination rates.

“C is the big shift, C is when you’re opening things up and you’re really moving from the whole issue of cases,” the Prime Minister said.

He said Victorians could look forward to 2022 without strict mask rules and density limits, with Covid kept in check through rapid testing, good hygiene and careful distancing.

“The more you can populate (the roadmap) with more elements, great, but it will get to the point where much of this will just become a return to (business as usual),” Mr Morrison said

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is calling for greater transparency about the road ahead.

From December 1 in NSW, there will be no caps on home visits, density limits will be reduced to one person per 2sqm at most venues and stadiums can enjoy full capacity.

Mr Morrison said Victoria should be “guided by the lived experience” in NSW to make “stronger and bolder decisions” on easing restrictions.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will on Friday launch its “Safe in Our Hands” plan, calling on the state to “open up completely” at 90 per cent with no density limits across hospitality, retail, entertainment, gyms and offices. VCCI says masks should only be required on public transport and where distancing is not possible indoors.

The Australian Hotels Association expects venue patron caps to go, while Live Performance Australia wants full houses at theatres by Christmas, with chief Evelyn Richardson calling for a clear pathway “in the next week”.

England celebrated “Freedom Day” on July 19 — ditching mandatory masks and reopening all businesses — when 62.7 per cent of the population aged over 12 was fully vaccinated.

There are calls for Daniel Andrews to ‘show empathy’ to struggling small businesses.

Denmark, where 76.85 per cent of the population is vaccinated, has enjoyed virtually zero Covid restrictions since August 23.

Mr Morrison said Australia’s plan to take careful steps at 70 per cent mitigated the risk of relapse lockdowns seen overseas. He praised Victoria’s plan so far, particularly to prepare hospitals, saying he could “understand the caution” to “open up safely and stay safely open”.

Simon Thewlis, from Save Victorian Events, said uncertainty was costing the industry millions of dollars and forcing organisers to cancel or relocate interstate. He said some events planned for March needed clarity within three weeks.

VCCI chief Paul Guerra said he wanted to see “hotel rooms full” and Melbourne Airport “heaving with commuters”, with home quarantine in place for vaccinated travellers, workers and students.

“If we make it too hard, they will go to other countries or other states,” he said.

The Australian Hotels Association wants a return to ‘Covid-normal settings’ at venues. Picture: David Crosling

AHA chief Paddy O’Sullivan said: “Pubs and hotels should expect Covid-normal settings whereby patron capacities will be restored as per liquor license conditions”.

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said this was the “final chance for our leaders to show empathy”.

“What small business families want to see is for all governments across the nation to come to the understanding that they have done all they can to protect the community and suppress the virus — to state clearly that once 90 per cent fully vaccinated is reached, that life will return to normal,” he said.

Asked about what restrictions would remain in place at 90 per cent, and when all rules would be lifted, Mr Andrews said the government was working “as fast as we can” to issue advice.

“I want to try and have the lowest, smallest number of rules impacting on people’s lives as we possibly can as soon as possible, whether that’s at 90 per cent or some other point,” he said.

“It will depend how many people are in hospital, how many people are really, really unwell and what sort of pressure we have on our health system at that point and we can’t be certain of that.”

A state government spokeswoman said national cabinet talks would also inform the rules “as we move towards 80 per cent double-dose and beyond”.

Mr Morrison said booster jabs would maintain “one of the highest vaccination rates in the world”.