Pubs, Clubs & Entertainment Venues To Shut At Midday Today

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a number of businesses around the country will be forced to shut down today in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus. 

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday night, Morrison confirmed venues such as pubs, nightclubs, entertainment venues, cinemas and casinos will be closed from midday today.

"We now need to take action because we cannot have the confidence as a group of leaders that the social distancing guidelines and rules that we have put in place won't be followed to the level of compliance that we require to flatten the curve and slow the spread and save lives," he said.

LISTEN: With COVID-19 Shutting Down Australia, What’s Next For The Music Industry? 

"This should highlight to all Australians how serious this is and how hard we all have to work together to get this right."

Check out the full list below:

• Registered and licensed clubs
• Licensed premesis in hotels and pubs. Entertainment venues and cinemas, casinos and nightclubs
• Restaurants and cafes will be restrict to takeaway only. Indoor sporting venues
• Places of worship
• Enclosed spaces for funerals and things of that nature will have to follow the strict four square metre rule which will be enforced

John "JC" Collins, who runs popular Brisbane live venues, Fortitude Music Hall and The Triffid, revealed to The Music last week that he is currently seeing no revenue at all due to the multiple tour cancellations. 

"We've got no shows so therefore our Production Manager won't be working, our Lighting Director won't be working, our staff who pour beer and most of our casual staff now will not be working," Collins said while appearing on a special episode of The Green Room podcast this week.

"It's a huge effect. We've got no revenue. We're now into how long can we survive? That's where we are at the moment."

Meanwhile, as ABC reports, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that a special taskforce of 500 police have been assigned to ensure people are adhering to the restrictions and are practising social distancing.

Those caught breaking the shutdown rules face fines of almost $20,000 and businesses will be hit with a $100,000 fine.