Australia reveals path to easing COVID-19 boating, fishing restrictions

The first-stage measures were spelled out in a roadmap released today by Prime Minister Scott Morrison after a national cabinet meeting with Australia’s premiers and chief ministers.

However, rather than set the timeline for lifting restrictions, the guidelines agreed to by the states and territories come without a timeline for their introduction.

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First-stage measures under the title of “Sport and Recreation” – one of 10 categories and the one with the most relevance to boating and fishing – ban any indoor activities. However, move outdoors and up to 10 people can gather in one place.

Under second-stage measures, the number of people who can gather together increases to 20, while under stage three everything returns to normal – albeit with social distancing and health practices still in force.

Under the title of “Domestic Travel”, local and regional travel for recreation will be permitted in stage one, although individual states and territories could still close their borders to outsiders. Step up to stage two, and consideration will be given to allow people to travel interstate for recreational purposes.

The various stages mainly focus on how to kick-start Australia's stagnating economy by allowing small businesses to reopen doors that have already been shuttered for more than a month.

According to the government, the three-step process will allow a measured introduction of activities that benefit the community but have a low risk of spreading coronavirus.

However, the timing of when various states and territories will move to the new stage one restrictions will be left up to individual premiers and chief ministers, meaning that particularly for Victorians, the ability to head out on the water to catch a fish could still be weeks – and maybe months – away.

Victoria is the only state or territory to enforce an outright ban on fishing and boating, classing them as non-essential activities under the stage-three state of emergency declared by Premier Daniel Andrews in late March.

Victoria’s cabinet is due to meet on Monday, May 11 to discuss whether the crackdown on low-risk social activities needs to be extended further to control the spread of coronavirus in the state.

As of today, Victoria has 1467 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the second-highest number behind NSW with 3047 confirmed cases.

While NSW has recorded 44 deaths linked to the pandemic, Victoria has only 18.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said his government would continue to be “guided by science” and look at whether it could ease restrictions next week with a view to whether it could roll out even more changes throughout May.

"I know it's frustrating ... but now is not the time to become so impatient ... that we start doing the wrong thing," he said.

Victoria has more community transmissions of the disease compared with other jurisdictions that have near zero, or no transfers between people.

NSW’s cabinet also meets on Monday to discuss whether it can start introducing more relaxed social distancing measures.

Australia’s coronavirus death toll In Australia, the death toll currently stands at 97. Since the pandemic’s outbreak, Australia has recorded 6912 COVID-19 cases.