Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been ridiculed over Phase 3 nightclub restrictions in the state.
Nightclubs will be allowed to reopen from this Friday, but all patrons must be seated, with dancing not allowed.
Social media quickly weighed in on the nightclub restrictions, led by the ABC’s Leigh Sales:
Crikey tweeted: “Announcing that patrons must stay seated when Queensland nightclubs reopen on Friday, the Queensland premier inadvertently creates the coolest COVID-19 crime yet: Footloose revolution. [Note: Crikey does not endorse Footloose revolutions].”
The Australian continued the Footloose theme, running with the headline: “If you’ve gotta cut loose, stay away from Queensland”.
From noon on Friday, 100 people will be allowed to gather indoors and event attendance can be up to 10,000 people if venues have a COVID-safe plan.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles said: “For small businesses like restaurants and cafes, for couples getting married, for young people wanting to celebrate their 21st at home, for community sporting teams and their spectators, for sports fans, museum-goers and event managers, life has gotten easier.”
There will be no maximum of number of people per space, provided venues have four square metres of floor space per patron.
Smaller venues, with a floor space between 100 and 200 square metres, will be allowed to welcome up to 50 people through the doors.
“For example, a 100 square metre cafe can currently have 25 patrons, with five of them in a separate area; now they can have up to 50 patrons,” Miles said.
“All of these new restrictions, though, require ongoing adherence to physical distancing.”
