It was touted as "freedom day", but this week's COVID-19 restriction changes for hospitality venues have left some in the industry worse off.
Before Monday, singers had to maintain three metres distance from others, but now singers have to be five metres from the audience.
A NSW Health spokesperson said the distance was increased in the context of the measures as a whole, with group singing considered "high-risk" due to the chance of spreading COVID-19 when a singer projects their voice.
"NSW Health regularly updates advice regarding higher risk activities to ensure it reflects the most current understanding of how these risks can be mitigated," the spokesperson said.
The change means the Kavon Theme Restaurant has to reduce its stages from three to one.
"If we had five metres from every stage that would wipe out our seating," co-owner Belinda Roals said.
Ms Roals has had to cancel bookings for 60 people over the next two weekends, with the change actually setting things back for the venue.
On December 1, the restaurant was allowed to have one person per two square metres instead of four with three metres between the audience and performer, but that changed to five metres on December 7.
"We had one weekend of trading something near capacity, now we'll be lucky to have 55 when our full capacity is 120," Ms Roals said.
"I get how difficult it is but they've given us false hope of having three weeks of trading at a decent level that might have given us a boost until we have to go back to paying full rent next year.
"If I didn't have bookings for this weekend I would have just shut for the next two weeks. Any venue doing live entertainment that doesn't have a huge auditorium is going to feel it."
One of those venues is the Hamilton Station Hotel, which hasn't run its popular karaoke since March. Live It Up Karaoke owner Alicia Dalgleish was ready to return to the pub, but then found out about the five metre rule.
"We pulled a tape measure out and it would take up two thirds of the room," she said. "In that five metres, there's four big wooden tables which wouldn't be able to be used.
"We're not even certain why they say 50 people can dance then say they have to be five metres from the stage."
Ms Dalgleish said it would have been more feasible to hold seated karaoke before the most recent change.
"This was supposed to be a reward for people doing the right thing and its actually worse," she said.
"Yeah singing is a high-risk activity, but why can people sit closer together and talk into each others faces, but have to be five metres away from somebody singing? It just makes no sense."
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