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Sydney's Lockdown & Stay At Home Orders

Nation Wide Lockdowns in Australia saw nearly 14 million Aussies itching to get out and about. While most of the nation bobs in and out of lockdowns now, Sydney Siders find themselves in another 4 weeks of continued lockdown making this the longest lockdown for Sydney since the pandemic began. But what are Sydney's lockdown and stay at home orders? What do they cover? What about those 8 LGA’s that are experiencing the strictest restrictions? How long can it last and what can we do?

Many in Sydney are uncertain, unclear and a bit frustrated about what these lockdowns mean for them. From our point of view, it is important to get a bit of clarity and understanding of how the current restrictions apply to you.

According to the NSW Health Website

Sydney's Lockdown and Stay at home orders apply to Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas.

If you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas, stay at home rules apply.

This generally means for those living in those areas, to stay at home, work from home when you can. When necessary, only travel within a 10km radius for food or household needs and exercise. Always wear a mask and practice social distancing when you are heading out and do not gather in groups with those outside of your household.

If you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in the local government areas of Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Campbelltown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta, the stay-at-home orders are a bit stricter. But what are they?

NSW Health states that you must stay home.

NSW Health states that you must stay home. You may only leave your home if you have a reasonable excuse. Which are to obtain food or other goods or services and for the personal needs of the household or for other household purposes. But they must be within 5km of your home. You can leave home to go to work if you cannot reasonably work from home or

are an authorised worker. You may leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home. And you can head out to exercise and take outdoor recreation within 5km of your home. Of course, you may also go out for medical or caring reasons, including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination or Legal obligations and needs.

For any of the reasonable reasons to leave your home, you must stay within your local area and not travel outside your local area if you can avoid it. Limit your physical contact with people you do not live with and always carry a face mask with you when you leave your home. 

There has been much confusion around the concept of what is and what is not an essential worker or an authorised worker. We have been told to use common sense, but as we all know, these terms can mean different things for different people.


Here is a list from the NSW Health site that lists what is considered authorised for the current lockdown.




Business Sector
Authorised Worker
Retail Trade
  • a person employed or engaged to work for a retail premises
  • supermarkets and neighbourhood shops
  • shops that predominantly sell food or drinks
  • chemists and pharmacies
  • kiosks
  • shops that predominately sell any of the following in the course of their normal operations:
  • • office supplies
    • pet supplies
    • newspapers, magazines and stationery
    • alcohol
    • maternity and baby supplies
    • medical or pharmaceutical supplies.
  • food and drink premises, but only as permitted under clause
  • cellar door premises, but only as permitted under clause
  • hardware and building supplies
  • landscaping material supplies
  • rural supplies
  • timber yards
  • garden centres and plant nurseries
  • vehicle hire premises, not including the premises at which vehicles are sold
  • industrial or commercial food retailing
  • fuel retailing
    		•
    Administrative and support services
  • "click and collect" services
    		•
    Public administration and safety
  • a member of the NSW Police Force, Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW State Emergency Service, the NSW Rural Fire Service or the Ambulance Service of NSW or other emergency services worker
  • fire protection and safety
  • the administration of justice, including in relation to the operation of courts and tribunals, correctional centres and community corrections
  • a person employed or engaged by or on behalf of the NSW Government for the purposes of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • members of an Australian Parliament
  • NSW parliamentary staff and electorate office staff
  • defence, national security and law enforcement
  • a person employed or engaged by Services Australia
  • a person employed or engaged by Service NSW
  • the conduct of local government, State or Commonwealth elections
    		•
    Health care and social assistance
  • a person who provides health services within the meaning of the Health Services Act 1997 (whether or not in the public or private sector) or a registered health practitioner or a person who works for a registered health practitioner (each a “health services provider”)
  • a person who provides ancillary or support services to the work of a “health services provider” (as defined above) (including, for example, cleaners, cooks and security providers at hospitals)
  • a person employed or engaged by the Department of Communities and Justice to provide housing or homelessness services
  • a community housing provider
  • a person employed or engaged to provide services to persons with disability or vulnerable persons
  • a person employed or engaged at a residential aged care facility
  • family violence and sexual assault services
  • veterinary services (including laboratory and diagnostic services and clinics)
  • animal welfare, care and accommodation services (excluding pet grooming unless there is an immediate animal welfare reason)
  • end of life services including funeral, crematorium and cemetery services, mortuaries and morgues, spiritual or religious services connected to end of life services
    		•

    Education
  • education and schooling
  • early childhood education and care
    		•
    Agriculture
  • biosecurity and food safety personnel undertaking critical duties
    		•
    Manufacturing
  • production and manufacturing of food, beverages, groceries, cleaning and sanitary products
  • food and fibre processing and manufacturing
  • manufacture of food and beverage packaging
  • manufacture of coffins and caskets
  • manufacturing of medical equipment, consumables and personal protective equipment
  • manufacturing of pharmaceutical and blood products
  • manufacturing of telecommunications equipment and infrastructure
  • manufacturing of firefighting equipment and supplies
  • manufacturing, installation, maintenance or repair of items that are required for the operation of infrastructure, plant or equipment that is necessary to protect human health or safety
  • manufacture of building supplies to support construction
    		•
    Transport, postal and warehousing
  • seaport and airport operations
  • freight, logistics, postal, courier or delivery services including food logistics, delivery and grocery fulfilment, but not home and office removals
  • export supply chain operators
  • distribution of food, groceries and sanitary products for sale by supermarkets, grocery shops or other shops that predominantly sell food or drinks
  • warehousing
  • road transport (passenger and freight) apart from taxi, rideshare and chauffeur services
  • rail transport (passenger and freight) – including rail yards
  • water transport (passenger and freight
  • air transport (passenger and freight)
  • pipeline and other transport
  • transport support services
  • vehicle repairs and critical maintenance including disinfection
  • towing services
  • critical safety operational staff for transport
    		•
    Electricity, gas, water and waste services
  • electricity services
  • operation of energy systems
  • gas services
  • liquid fuels
  • water supply, sewerage, sanitation, and drainage services
  • waste resource recovery services (including collection, treatment and disposal services)
    		•
    Information media and telecommunications
  • telecommunications services, internet service providers, web search portals and data processing services
  • data specialists and technicians
  • data storage
  • journalism and media services for news and other critical public communications purposes
    		•
    Financial Services
  • critical financial services and infrastructure
    		•
    Other services
  • essential services for the maintenance, safety and upkeep of public and recreational spaces
  • faith leaders broadcasting services and ceremonies at places of worship, or providing end of life care and support
    		•


    These are the professions and roles that are currently exceptions to Sydney's lockdown and Stay at Home orders. However, things are changing rapidly so we would advise you to check with NSW health yourself to keep up to date and be informed on your specific situation.

    How Long Will The Lockdown Last?

    No one is certain as to how long these restrictions will last. We have been given the date of August 28th but with the numbers continuing to increase no one is feeling too confident that things will go back to normal at that time. This pandemic continues to spread worldwide and countries around the world are seeing the impact of the Covid-19 Delta variant. This strain is particularly transmissible and seems to affect many more than previous strains have. Unfortunately, we are learning how to live with this all over again. We want to encourage everyone to stay safe, keep your families safe and please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

    What We Can Do To Help

    During this time, we are able to meet with our clients virtually and can arrange for safe documents to be delivered and signed. Financial and legal obligations are still very important to peoples lives and we want to be available to help during Sydney's Lockdown and Stay at home orders.

    We are also recommending that during this time, everyone take the opportunity to get their affairs in order. Have your will and estate set up properly to protect your family in the long run. Set up an enduring power of attorney and enduring guardianships in order to keep the elderly and vulnerable at home. This works by designating one person who can take care of the paperwork, legal, and financial needs on behalf of the person who sets this up.

    Domestic violence and divorce rates are climbing during this time due to the added pressures and constant contact with partners. If this is your situation and you are ready to make a decision to move forward in your life. Don’t feel like you are stuck, we can help you get things moving forward and getting your life back on track. If you are experieriencing domestic violence please Call 1800 875 204 for support. If you are in an emergency situation please call 000 for help now.

    Covid-19 has changed the world we live in and though it can be difficult, we need to prepare ourselves the best we can. CM Lawyers can help.

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    The Covid-19 Pandemic is an ongoing and ever changing situation, This article is current at the time of publishing but things are changing daily. Please check the NSW Health website for the latest on Sydney's Lockdown and Stay At Home Orders.