Pubs and clubs in Victoria could reopen as soon as July if proposed operating restrictions are approved by national cabinet.
According to The Age, a task force appointed by the state Government - which includes Crown Resorts, Tabcorp, Woolworths' pokies arm ALH, the Australian Hotels Association, Community Clubs Victoria and the RSL - is close to finalising new measures that could see venues operate with table service rather than self service at the bar and mosh pits banned in live music spaces.
State Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Marlene Kairouz, reportedly addressed the task force on Thursday and indicated that pubs and clubs could reopen in late July if successful.
If restrictions are eased following a review by national cabinet on 8 May, it is expected that pubs and clubs would be given a month to prepare for reopening.
The encouraging news comes only weeks after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews warned that bars and pubs won't be reopening "any time soon".
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison responded to a question regarding when pubs could reopen on Friday, saying, "The first step to getting back to that is downloading [the COVIDSafe app]."
