ClubsNSW understands the Coronavirus crisis is creating extreme uncertainty for clubs, affecting trade and unsettling individual club members. ClubsNSW will attempt to provide relevant information to clubs to assist in the management of what is a very unpredictable situation.
Rest assured, we are working as closely as we can with Government to obtain the most up-to-date advice. Because the Government’s position is rapidly shifting, we have established this page to provide regular updates and advice as the situation eventuates. For specific questions relating to a club's individual circumstances, please contact ClubASSIST by email or phone (1300 730 001).
ClubsNSW is working closely with the NSW and Australian Governments to ensure decisions are made with regard for the interests of clubs.
LATEST UPDATES
4:00pm, 20th August, 2021
Member clubs are advised that earlier today, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a number of changes to the COVID-19 restrictions including that the lockdown of ‘Greater Sydney’ will be extended until the end of September.
Extension of ‘Greater Sydney’ lockdown
The Premier announced that the lockdown of Greater Sydney will be extended until the end of September. The decision to extend the lockdown by one month is primarily due to recent increases in daily case numbers.
Central Coast and Shellharbour no longer part of Greater Sydney
The local government areas (LGAs) of Central Coast and Shellharbour are being reclassified so they are no longer part of Greater Sydney.
This means that clubs in Central Coast and Shellharbour may emerge from lockdown before Greater Sydney, subject to when the lockdown in regional and rural NSW ends.
Workers residing in LGAs of concern
From Saturday, 28 August, the following restrictions apply to workers residing in LGAs of concern:
- Residents of the LGAs of concern can only leave their LGA for work if the work is authorised and the person has either received one dose of the vaccine (from 30 August) or completed a rapid antigen test at the worksite
- Residents of the LGAs of concern must carry a Service NSW permit if they are working, irrespective of whether they leave the LGA
- People who do not reside in the LGAs of concern must carry a Service NSW permit if they enter an LGA of concern.
The LGAs of concern can be found here.
These rules mean that people who enter a club in the LGAs of concern for work purposes (e.g. takeaway food and beverage, maintenance or upkeep) must carry a Service NSW permit. If a person working at a club resides in the LGAs of concern (and the club is not in the same LGA as the person’s residence), the club must ensure the person has either received one dose of the vaccine or completed a rapid antigen test at work.
5:00pm, 19th August, 2021
Members clubs are advised that the lockdown of regional NSW has been extended for a further seven days and will remain in force until 12:01am on Sunday, 29 August 2021.
The extension will require clubs to continue to cease all on-premises activities. Clubs are able to operate takeaway food and beverages.
Clubs may utilise the stand-down provisions under section 524 of the Fair Work Act 2009 for the duration of the closure. Employees who are stood down are not entitled to payment from the club for the period of the stand-down.
Employees who are stood down are entitled to apply for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
3:10pm, 14th August, 2021
Member clubs are advised that the whole of NSW is entering a seven-day lockdown from 5pm today until 12.01am on Sunday, 22 August 2021.
The lockdown will require clubs to cease all on-premises activities. Clubs may continue to operate takeaway food and beverages.
Club employees or contractors may continue to visit the club to upkeep the premises and carry out administrative functions which cannot be done from home.
While the public health order giving effect to the state-wide lockdown has not yet been made, ClubsNSW notes that golf is permitted in current lockdown zones, subject to certain conditions. For instance, participants must be assigned to groups of no more than two and the club must collect the contact details of players.
Clubs may utilise the stand-down provisions under section 524 of the Fair Work Act 2009. Employees who are stood down are not entitled to payment for the period of the stand-down.
Read more in Circular 21-150.
In order to provide clubs with clear and up-to-date information, we've catalogued past advice by date below.
| 1 July | 7 July | 9 July | 14 July | |||
Service NSW check-in will become mandatory at all workplaces and retail businesses, state-wide from 12 July 2021. | One-week extension of the lockdown of ‘Greater Sydney’ and COVID restrictions across the rest of NSW. | Australian Banking Association (ABA) has announced banks will be offering support, changes to the check-in requirements in the public health order to commence on 12 July & two important announcements regarding the COVID-19 Disaster Payment. | Lockdown extension, and Testing requirements for certain workers and contractors | |||
| 15 July | 20 July | 27 July | 28 July | |||
| ClubsNSW has lodged a submission to the Australian Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, detailing the multiple opportunities for clubs to support Australia’s vaccination rollout. | Further details regarding the COVID-19 Business Grants | NSW Government’s JobSaver Scheme | Increases to the COVID-19 Disaster Payment, four-Week Extension to the Lockdown and expansion of JobSaver |
| 18 June | 20 June | 22 June | 23 June | ||||
Recommendation for masks to be worn in indoor settings in Sydney | Masks will be mandatory in indoor settings in seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) from 4pm 20 June 2021. | NSW Government expanded areas where masks are mandatory indoors - including Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the local government areas (LGAs) | New Restrictions Announced for Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the local government areas (LGAs) of the Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour. | ||||
| 24 June | 25 June | 26 June | 29 June | ||||
| No New Restrictions Announced | Stay at home order for Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick and City of Sydney | Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that ‘Greater Sydney’ will be subjected to stay-at-home restrictions and additional restrictions will be applied to the rest of NSW from 6pm today. | Support package for businesses in light of the recent NSW-wide restrictions. |
| 9 March | 10th March | 24th March | |||
Exemption for ANZAC Day Marches | Outdoor ANZAC Day marches and services of up to 3000 people Permitted | Dancefloors in venues permitted, removal of upper caps on wedding and wakes and foreshadowing of relaxation of restrictions | |||
| 29 March | 31 March | ||||
New Public Health Order and key changes to the COVID-19 safety checklist | New restrictions on clubs in the local government areas (LGAs) of Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Tweed. |
| 3rd February | 10th February | 12th February | |||
Density cap for clubs in ‘Greater Sydney’ foreshadowed to revert to 1 patron per 2 square metres | Easing of restrictions for | Updated COVID-19 Safety Plan | |||
| 23 February | 26th February | ||||
Easing of restrictions foreshadowed for drinking and standing, dancing and singing | Updated Public Health Order |
| 2nd January | 3rd January | 15th January | |||
Southern Zone of the Northern Beaches to have restrictions eased | Further information regarding the wearing of face masks | Updated COVID-19 Safety Plan | |||
| 27th January | 29th January | ||||
Easing of restrictions for capacities and Weddings and memorial services | Updated COVID-19 safety checklist reflecting restrictions changing |
2020 Updates
| 2nd December | 7th December | 8th December | |||
NSW Premier announced a major easing of COVID-19 restrictions in hospitality venues | New COVID-19 Safety Checklist | JobMaker Hiring Credit program registrations are now open | |||
| 20th December | 21 December | 23rd December | |||
| Reimposition of the 4 square metre rule and the 300 patron internal capacity limits on hospitality venues in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains | Updated COVID-19 safety checklist & the Reimposition of restrictions on hospitality venues | Changes to restrictions and requirements in the Public Health Order regarding the Mandatory Service NSW app & Capacity and density restrictions | |||
| 29th December | 30th December | ||||
| Further information on the Service NSW app | Restrictions introduced for the Christmas trading period have been extended |
| 5th November | 11th November | 18th November | |||
Media reports on QR code digital sign-in | Mandatory Digital Sing-In | NSW Government has delivered the 2020-2021 Budget | |||
| 20th November | 25th November | ||||
| Electronic sign-in requirements | Easing of restrictions in hospitality venues |
| !6th October | 19th October | |||||
Higher density capacity in outdoor areas, Remembrance Day, Corporate events, | Restrictions eased, with bookings and group size and wedding capacities |
|
| 1st September | 2nd September | 8th September | 15th September | |||
Coronavirus Economic Response Package
| Update on NSW Health Contact tracing | New JobKeeper resources available | NSW Government Rolls-Out Check In App & JobKeeper 2.0 Ineligibility | |||
| 29th September | ||||||
| Maximum capacity of corporate events increased to 300 & Patrons may stand to play a game |
| 3rd August | 6th August | 7th August | 12th August |
| COVID-19: Face Masks & Deep Cleaning | COVID-19: Update on Facemasks, JobKeeper 2.0, Virtual Meetings & Great Southern Nights | JobKeeper | Income Tax: Treatment of JobKeeper Under Mutuality |
| 18th August | 19th August | 21st August | 27th August |
| JobKeeper - New Employee Eligibility | Enforcement of the Public Health Order & Updated community sports advice | JobKeeper Resources | JobKepper Extension & Eligibility |
| 1st July | 7th July | 8th July | ||
Residents from Victoria hotspots,Ongoing compliance with the restrictions & Further Information on the Public Healthy Order | Restrictions on people who have been in Victoria, Update on Courtesy vehicles & Small Business Grants | Public Health Order On Individuals Who Were In Victoria | ||
| 10th July | 12th July | 17th July | ||
Public Health Order On Individuals Who Were In Victoria, Investigation into the | Tougher Restrictions Imposed On Hotels In NSW, Penalties & warning for noncompliance | NSW Government announced additional restrictions | ||
| 21st July | 24th July | 28th July | ||
| JobKeeper Extension | Updated public health order and new restrictions which apply to clubs from today. | Updated COVID-19 safety requirements |
| 2nd June | 10th June | 12th June |
COVID-19 safety plan, Club Industry Reopening Pack, Relief from Foxtel subscription fees in June, Responsible Gambling Advice.
| COVID SAFE business certification, Course on COVID SAFE food service | Changes to the Australian Government’s Three Step Framework for a COVIDSafe Australia |
| 15th June | 18th June | 24th June |
NSW Government To Further Ease | Gaming Machine Tax Assessment Notices & 2019 AUSTRAC Compliance Reports due 30 June 2020 | Clarification On Activities Inside Clubs |
| 6th May | 8th May | 11th May | 12th May | |
| COVID-19 guidance materials on work health and safety (WHS) and sports. | NSW Government's Three-Step Roadmap For Businesses To Reopen | Laws Permitting Clubs To Hold Virtual Member's Meetings | 10-person cap in club dining facilities, Payroll tax on JobKeeper | |
| 13th May | 14th May | 20th May | 22nd May | |
| NSW Premier's Comments On Cafes & Restaurants In Clubs | NSW Government Permits Clubs To Operate Dining Facilities With Restrictions In Place, JobKeeper Payments for Employees Aged 16 or 17 Years Old | Gaming-related Payment Deferrals | NSW Government To Ease Restrictions On Clubs & Club Industry Reopening Pack | |
| 27th May | 29th May | 30th May | ||
| Further Information On Easing Of Restrictions On Clubs | Updated NSW Health Checklist | Legislation For Clubs Reopening On 1 June 2020 |
| 1st April | 2nd April | 3rd April | 6th April |
| NSW Office Of Sport announces Golf Courses and Bowling Greens Can Remain Open | Award Variation as Proposed from the Fair Work Commission | JobKeeper update, COVID-19 Industry Shutdown Survey, In-person monthly board meetings and Employment opportunities for stood-down or redundant club staff. | Information on small business grants & Sky Fees suspensions and updates |
| 7th April | 8th April | 9th April | 14th April |
| Information regarding public holiday payments and stood down employees, and Update on JobKeeper legislation | ClubsNSW Industry Address, ClubsNSW Counselling Service for clubs and their staff, CDI Spotlight Podcast, Club Employers Mutual Relief, Grants for combating social isolation among seniors | Updated government legislation for employers participating in the JobKeeper scheme and employees receiving JobKeeper payments. | Updated JobKeeper Payments Enrolment Process and Eligibility For Employers & Employees |
| 15th April | 20th April | 24th April | 28th April |
| NSW government announces Liquor Licence fee Waiver | Update on ANZAC Day event cancellations and ClubsNSW Made Local: ANZAC Day Initiative | Small Business Grants, Information & Eligibility for Clubs. | JobKeeper Update & Accessing Loans, ClubsNSW events updates & cancellations |
| 16th March | 17th March | 18th March | 19th March |
Managing patrons, managing staff, stimulus packages , media assistance and cancellation of commercial contracts.
| Government advice for employers, complying with regulatory requirements, and cancellation of ClubsNSW events. | 100-person limits, enclosed area definition, social distancing advice, scaling down, and enhancing cleanliness | Workforce planning advice, business recovery advice, enforcement about unlawful gatherings and ClubGRANTS. |
| 20th March | 22nd March | 23rd March | 24th March |
| ATO and loan deferrals, status of staff in the kitchen and further restrictions on gatherings. | Forced closure, workforce arrangements under forced shutdown and advice on available government assistance. | Communication with staff around forced closure, workforce options during stand down, status of ClubGRANTS, ASIC no-action on AGMs, takeaway advice, and relief for trading insolvent. | Members of the public can play golf and bowls on courses and greens, as permitted by the government. |
| 25th March | 26th March | 27th March | 30th March |
| Initial update and eligibility on government payments and leave entitlements for employees in registered clubs. | JobSeeker Allowance and Coronavirus Supplement - Update, update on trading while insolvent & AML/CTF 2019 compliance report. | Gaming machine tax and payroll tax deferral, Tabcorp fee suspension, AUSTRAC advice on 2019 AML/CTF Compliance Report | Initial announcement on new JobKeeper Wage Subsidy for employers. Legislation is yet to be published or enacted. |
| 31st March | |||
| JobKeeper Scheme – Further Information on employee eligibility, superannuation, payment timeframes and next steps. |
For more information or any questions, please contact ClubASSIST.
Quick links to other resources
Circular Index Club Industry Reopening Pack
Business Continuity & Recovery Advice Workforce Planning FAQs Club CovidSAFE Signs