NSW & Queensland Live Venue Capacities To Increase Next Week As COVID Restrictions Ease

Both New South Wales and Queensland live venues are set to get a boost with capacity increases being introduced next week as COVID restrictions are eased.

As ABC reports, concert halls, theatres and cinemas will be allowed to double their capacity and host 50% of the venue's capacity, but ticket sales must be capped at 1,000.

"For workers across the full spectrum of the performing arts — from box office staff to ushers, from technicians and roadies to the artists — this change means more jobs," Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said.

The news comes after NSW Labor introduced a Bill this week which aims to promote jobs for musicians, as well as remove bans and restrictions on live music in venues across the state.

"At the moment, in more than 600 venues across New South Wales... music is banned," Shadow Minister for Music and The Night Time Economy, John Graham MLC, said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"These are all restrictions on work. We support regulated noise, we don't support banning music.

"And that's what this Bill does. It doesn't change noise regulation, it will let these musicians do their job in more than 600 venues across the state."

Meanwhile in Queensland, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed today that "outdoor stadiums, amphitheatres and outdoor performance venues" can increase capacity from 50% to 75% "with a COVID safe plan as of Thursday 1 October.

BREAKING: From 1am on Thursday, October 1, we’re increasing the number of people who can gather at venues and events, as long as it’s outdoors. #covid19au pic.twitter.com/Z8S0NRFGLq

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 24, 2020