Victorians are relieved to see lockdown restrictions easing, but while retail and hospitality sectors can open from 2 November, churches and other faith communities remain in the dark about their future.

Regional Victoria is beginning to return to some semblance of normal life as restrictions ease. Restaurants, pubs and shops are reopening. School and sport are resuming. Sadly, what remain locked down are our churches.

The Victorian Government’s restrictions on churches and other faith groups are a disproportionate response to the COVID-19 risk and amount to religious discrimination, the Australian Christian Lobby said on Friday.

Churches are questioning the fairness of Queensland’s roadmap to easing COVID-19 restrictions, surprised by increased restrictions on singing in a worship service.

Last Tuesday, the Australian Christian Lobby called out the NSW government’s approach of imposing greater COVID-19 restrictions on churches than on pubs, clubs and restaurants, saying it failed the ‘pub test’.