Business restrictions will change from Friday 17 December 2021

Some businesses must apply Queensland Government COVID-19 restrictions for people, including employees, who are not fully vaccinated.

TAFE Queensland is currently offering the COVID Safe for Business micro-credential to give Queenslanders a deeper understanding of COVID restrictions in Queensland from 17 December, and will help you safeguard yourself, your colleagues and your customers from the virus. This course is fully funded by the Queensland Government. For further information on the course visit the TAFE Queensland website here.

What to expect in Queensland from Friday 17 December 2021:

Eased restrictions for businesses

There will be no capacity restrictions on businesses where only fully vaccinated people can attend, including:

• hospitality venues such as hotels, pubs, clubs, taverns, bars, restaurants or cafes
• indoor entertainment venues such as nightclubs, live music venues, karaoke bars, concerts, theatres or cinemas
• outdoor entertainment activities such as sporting stadiums or theme parks
• festivals – either indoor or outdoor – such as musical festivals, folk festivals or arts festivals
• Queensland Government-owned galleries, museums or libraries
• weddings (only if all attendees are fully vaccinated).

Essential businesses and services

Essential businesses will be able to allow both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Capacity restrictions may still be in place at these types of businesses.

Unvaccinated people will be able to visit and attend:

• essential services (e.g. grocery stores, pharmacies, post offices, newsagents, clothing stores, limited retail stores, gyms and fitness services)
• food courts
• shopping centres (except for businesses within a shopping centre that only allow fully vaccinated people)
• fast food restaurants for takeaway or drive-through only
• accommodation providers (e.g. a hotel or resort), except for any venues within an accommodation premises that only allow fully vaccinated people (e.g. pub, restaurant, nightclub)
• markets (e.g. farmers market, craft market, community market)
• funerals (occupant density limits and attendance caps will apply)
• weddings (with a maximum of 20 people if anyone attending is unvaccinated).

Checking vaccination status

Hospitality and entertainment businesses need to take reasonable steps to enforce these restrictions. Customers aged 16 years or over must carry proof of their vaccination status and be prepared to show this on request. You must:

• display the vaccination rules in a prominent location at the entry of your business premises
• use best efforts to ask for proof of vaccination from your customers at the time of check-in (this is a legal requirement) through:
  • the Check In Qld app
  • an immunisation history statement
  • a COVID-19 vaccination digital certificate.
• if a customer cannot or refuses to provide evidence, ask the person to leave the premises
• if the person refuses to the leave the premises and becomes aggressive, phone the police.

More details will be available soon on arrangements that will apply for people who have a genuine medical reason for not being vaccinated, and what proof of exemption they must provide to a business.

It is not expected for business owners or staff to be the police. If customers are refusing to comply and become aggressive, phone the police.

Signage for businesses

Display these signs to clearly show if proof of vaccination is required to enter your business:

• From 17 December – Proof of vaccination will be required sign
• Proof of vaccination required sign
• Proof of vaccination not required sign

For full details on the upcoming changes in restrictions and the responsibility of businesses and services, visit the Queensland Government website here.