The easing of restrictions in Victoria will allow the Australian Open and Boxing Day Test in Melbourne to welcome capacity crowds this summer.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that from 11:59pm on Thursday, there will no longer be any caps on gatherings in the state.
"Whether it's 100,000 people at the MCG on Boxing Day or a smaller group of people standing up at the … local pub, this is the COVID-normal that every Victorian has built," he said at a press conference.
The eased restrictions will be welcomed by the MCG and Melbourne Park, which both dealt with reduced numbers last summer.
The last Australian Open in February was limited to 30,000 people per day — about half of Melbourne Park's usual capacity — before all fans were banned for five days due to a snap lockdown.
Last year's Boxing Day Test against India had crowds capped at 30,000 per day at the 100,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The last Ashes Test against England at the ground in 2017 drew a crowd of more than 88,000 on Boxing Day.
Events with fewer than 30,000 attendees can go ahead without a COVID plan, but the Boxing Day Test and Australian Open will need a plan approved by authorities.
Mr Andrews Victoria is on track to have 90 per cent of its population 12 and over fully vaccinated this weekend.
Reuters/ABC
