Government clears way for major events over summer

The framework applies to events where patron attendance exceeds current gathering restrictions, Premier Peter Gutwein says. It will come into effect on December 1.

"These larger events ... will not be conducted as normal," Mr Gutwein said. "They will be conducted in a COVID-safe way moving forward."

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Level one events will require organisers to have a COVID safety plan, as per current rules; level two events will require an application to be approved and signed off by State Growth and Communities Tasmania and will allow for free-moving indoor events of up to 500 people and outdoor events of up 2000 people and; level three events will require an application to be approved by Public Health and will allow for free-moving indoor events of up to 1000 people and outdoor events of up to 5000 people.

Further requirements around indoor and outdoor seated events apply for each of the three levels.

"The social distancing rules will still apply," Mr Gutwein said.

"Importantly, it means ... that the major [racing] cups can go ahead, we can plan to have major music festivals, importantly it provides a framework for the Sydney to Hobart [Yacht Race] ... to operate as well and for crowd sizes to be of a significant size in terms of Big Bash cricket or other sports over the summer."

"These events will need to be well-managed."

Opposition Leader Rebecca White welcomed the government's announcement, but expressed some reservations.

"Because this decision has come so late in the year many of the state's most iconic summer festivals and events have already been forced to cancel," Ms White said in a statement. "There are many committees who have already cancelled events because they had no certainty from government about whether they would be able to proceed."

"Premier Peter Gutwein has admitted the government did not begin developing the events framework until around three weeks ago, despite a long list of festival cancellations over the past few months.

"[He] must have been aware of the lead time required for music festivals, cultural events and major food and wine extravaganzas that Tasmania has become so famous for.

"It's going to be a very different summer this year without the iconic festivals and events Tasmanians have become so familiar with and proud of."

Tasmanian events that have already been cancelled - originally scheduled for the coming months and into next year - include the Falls Festival, Dark Mofo, Festivale and the Taste of Tasmania.

However, events including MONA FOMA, Agfest, Beerfest and a scaled-back version of the Junction Arts Festival will go ahead.

Consultation on the events framework will continue.

LEVEL ONE:

Will require, as per current rules, a COVID safety plan.

Free-moving outdoor events can have up to 1000 people.

Free-moving indoor events can have up to 250 people.

Seated indoor events can have up to 50 per cent capacity to a maximum of 500 people.

Seated outdoor events up to 50 per cent of the capacity of the venue can have up to a maximum of 2000 people.

Events in level one with multiple separate areas or across multiple sites can have up to 2000 people.

LEVEL TWO:

Will require an application to be approved and signed off by State Growth and Communities Tasmania.

Free-moving indoor events can have up to 500 people.

Free-moving outdoor events can have up to 2000 people.

Seated indoor events can have up to 50 per cent capacity to a maximum of 1000 people.

Seated outdoor events up to 50 per cent capacity to a maximum of 5000 people

Events with multiple separate areas or across multiple sites can have up to 5000 people.

LEVEL THREE:

Will require an application to be approved by Public Health.

Free-moving indoor events can have up to 1000 people.

Free-moving outdoor events can have up to 5000 people.

Seated indoor events can have up to 50 per cent capacity to a maximum of 2000 people.

Seated outdoor events up to 50 per cent capacity to a maximum of 10,000 people.

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