Australia's Entertainment Industry face six months of ruin

With gatherings of more than 500 people outdoors and 100 people indoors effectively banned across Australia amid the coronavirus pandemic, a number of major events have been cancelled across Australia and the future of many more remains uncertain.

Australia's entertainment industry including restaurants, pubs, cinemas and theatres face six months of ruin as the coronavirus forces the government to ban and resterict indoor and outdoor gatherings and the national cabinet considers further measures to stop people socialising.

In an escalation of the containment strategy that distinguishes Australia from the rest of the world, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the longer-term restriction of entertainment activities would allow schools and supermarkets to keep functioning and avoid the total lockdown of society sweeping through Europe.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews issued a warning to businesses, event organisers and individuals that all non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people would face fines of between $20,000 and $100,000. NSW will also enforce the ban as Australia heads towards 1000 COVID-19 infections nationwide by the weekend.

Mr Morrison said the national cabinet would this week be considering further "rules amongst smaller gatherings", suggesting restrictions on groups under 100 people are likely to be implemented within a week.

Those measures are set to see weddings, birthdays and barbecues scrapped across the country as dozens of venues announced plans to shut up shop within hours of the announcement.