30/03/2020
GATHERING IN PUBLIC PLACES (2 PERSON GATHERING RULE)
The Health Minister has issued Directions under s 7 of the Public Health Act directing that a person must not to leave their place of residence without reasonable excuse - the Stay at Home Rule. If a person has a reasonable excuse to leave their residence, they must comply with the 2 Person Gathering Rule. These Directions expire on 29 June 2020.
WHAT IS A REASONABLE EXCUSE FOR A PERSON TO LEAVE THEIR HOME?
A reasonable excuse includes:
(a) shopping for food or other goods or services for personal needs of the household or other household purposes (including for pets) and for vulnerable persons;
(b) travelling to work provided the person cannot reasonably work from home (including pick up and drop off by another person);
(c) travelling to childcare or education (including pick up and drop off by another person);
(d) exercising;
(e) obtaining medical care or supplies, fulfilling carer’s responsibilities, providing personal care to a vulnerable person, or providing emergency assistance;
(f) attending a wedding or funeral service (5 and 10 person rules apply);
(g) moving house or moving between different places of residence of a person or inspecting a potential new place of residence;
(h) donating blood;
(i) fulfilling a legal obligation (attending court, satisfying bail requirements, visiting your solicitor);
(j) accessing public services, including social services, employment services, DV services, mental health services etc;
(k) access visits for children to parents in different homes;
(l) escaping risk of harm (eg DV) or assisting a person to escape risk of harm;
(m) emergencies or compassionate reasons.
Taking a holiday in a regional area is not a reasonable excuse!
This Direction DOES NOT apply to a person who is homeless.
If a person has a reasonable excuse for being away from home, they must not participate in a gathering in a public place with more than 2 people (except if they are with other members of their household).
A household means any persons living together in the same place of residence.
The following gatherings are exempt from the 2 Person Rule:
Exempt
Gatherings with a person’s household (family or flatmates)
Work
Care/assistance for vulnerable persons
Weddings (5 persons) or funerals (10 persons)
Moving house or business
Providing emergency assistance to a person
Emergency services
Going to court or getting legal advice
Parliament where used for normal purposes
Exempt (where used for normal purposes)
Residential premises are not public places
Transport in private vehicles, car share, public transport, platforms, stations
Hospitals, health care, disability & aged care
Correctional facilities, youth justice
Supermarkets, food markets, grocery stores and shopping centres
Retail stores (4 sqm rule applies)
Schools, universities, educational facilities, childcare
Office buildings, factories, mines, farms, constriction sites
Hotels, motels, other accommodation facilities
Outdoor thoroughfares (eg a Mall)
