Iconic sporting events such as the Boxing Day test, the Australian Open and the Melbourne Cup could be cancelled or go ahead without crowds due to Victoria’s draconian lockdown restrictions and strict reopening criteria.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he couldn’t provide a “definitive answer” on how Summer sports would be run this year claiming it was “too early to determine whether they will have crowds”. “I don't think it will be a Boxing Day test like it normally is, nor will the Australian Open be exactly the same as it normally is," he said.
“There are lots of other events that would normally occur over summer and we have to work through each of those event by event and venue by venue." The Premier said "teams and players coming from overseas and coaches and officials will all have to quarantine". "We don't want one event to necessarily set us back and cause us a problem." Image: Getty
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dramatic arrests caught on camera as anti-lockdown protests happen across MelbourneProtesters are chanting “freedom” and there is a huge police presence at an anti-lockdown protest happening in Melbourne.
Read more »
Victoria Police arrest 74 protesters in anti-lockdown rally | Sky News AustraliaVictorian Police have carried out 74 arrests and issued 176 fines after anti-lockdown protesters clashed with law enforcement officers in the heart of Melbourne.\n\nHundreds gathered in the Queen Victoria markets in defiance of coronavirus restrictions over the weekend and warn they will be back next week.\n\nVictorian Premier Daniel Andrews commented on the demonstrations saying, “protesting is selfish, protesting is stupid and protesting is dangerous”.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
Read more »
'Selfish, Unlawful, Wrong': Andrews chastises anti-lockdown protesters | Sky News AustraliaVictoria Premier Daniel Andrews has labelled anti-lockdown protesters that gathered at Fitzroy Gardens and 'the Tan' as 'selfish, unlawful and wrong', warning Victoria Police will be 'pretty clear' about the fact protests are prohibited.\n\n'Now is not the time for protests... No one has the right to make choices that potentially puts at risk everything that everyone's given and everything everyone's working towards,' he said.\n\n'Victoria Police will be pretty clear as well. They have a job to do and they will do it.'\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n\n
Read more »
Andrews floats possibility of tighter border restrictions between Melbourne and regional Victoria | Sky News AustraliaPremier Daniel Andrews has suggested Victoria could tighten and strengthen its border enforcement measures between regional Victoria and Melbourne as the regions look at reopening ahead of schedule.\n\nMr Andrews said his government would defend the border between regional Victoria and Melbourne 'very tightly'.\n\n'We've got a different set of circumstances in Melbourne - much more virus in Melbourne. We can't have a situation where people are travelling for anything other than essential reasons into regional Victoria,' Mr Andrews said.\n\n'We know it's inconvenient to be stopped for lengthy periods of time at roadblocks but my feedback from regional Victorians is they're proud they've got such low numbers and they jealously guard it.'\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
Read more »
Victoria's state of emergency extended as Melbourne's new rules start from midnight | Sky News AustraliaVictorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the state of emergency has been extended for four more weeks, but there will be changes from today.\n\n“Regional Victoria will take one step today, and they will potentially, around the middle of the week, reach those thresholds of less than five cases, a 14-day average. They are at 4.1 cases now per day,” Mr Andrews said.\n\n“I wanted to remind, as part of that safe and steady steps, part of the roadmap, from 11.59pm tonight, so essentially from midnight tonight, Melbourne moves from Stage Four restrictions to the first step of our roadmap which brings small, I fully acknowledge, small changes that allow for more social interaction and more time outside.\n\n“Social bubbles for those living alone or single parents - they will be allowed to have one other person in their home. \n\n“Exercise is extended for two hours, split over a maximum of two sessions, but that goes obviously from one hour to two hours, and the notion of time outside, time outdoors, whilst at the moment it is just for exercise, it will also now be from midnight tonight for social interaction with one other person or members of your household.\n\n“Of course, as we move towards the warmer months, the curfew is extended from 8:00pm from tomorrow night essentially, from midnight tonight, so apply from Monday night from 8:00pm to 9:00pm, so an extra hour of that freedom of movement.”\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
Read more »
Welcome to Melbourne’s ‘1984’ replication: Rowan Dean | Sky News AustraliaSky News host Rowan Dean says “welcome to 1984” as police surveillance equipment is rolled out across Melbourne’s residential streets.\n\nImages of new police surveillance machines out the front of houses and in car parks has emerged in chilling scenes resembling George Orwell’s famous novel 1984, according to Mr Dean.\n\n“The comedy act is in Victoria,” he said.\n\n“The whole world is a stage in Victoria, and all the comedians come and go.”\n
Read more »