UPDATE: In good news for Victorian couples, they will no longer be banned from seeing each other under the state's tough isolation rules.
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Chief health officer Brett Sutton tweeted the clarification, in contrast to what Premier Daniel Andrews had said earlier.
"Regarding 'Stay at Home' rules: We have no desire to penalise individuals who are staying with or meeting their partners if they don't usually reside together. We'll be making an exemption. Hope that helps," he said.
Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville said the ban was being lifted in a common sense way that also pleased Victoria Police because it would have been hard to enforce.
EARLIER:
Relationships on the Border have become a lot trickier, with stage 3 restrictions in Victoria and NSW putting different restrictions on people - even partners - being together.
The rules are toughest in Victoria, where if you do not live together, exercise or shopping dates are the only way to spend time with a significant other in person.
Stage 3 restrictions make it illegal for anyone to be inside or outside with someone they do not live with unless they work or live with them, or if two people are meeting up for exercise or shopping.
There are clauses in Victoria's "stay at home directions" that allow for people who may have two residences or are caring for others, but Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Wednesday there would be no exceptions for those who are dating without living in the same house.
"I know I'm asking a lot, people are making sacrifices across the community, but it is a price worth paying because it is going to save lives," he said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
NSW has a more broad restriction on gatherings of more than two people, but also states no one can leave their home unless it is for those reasons of work, study, health, exercise or shopping.
Police Commissioner Mike Fuller had better news for Albury couples on Wednesday, saying that north of the border, going out to seeing your partner would "absolutely" come under the category of care and mental health.
"We need to look after each other, but don't take the whole family with you, don't take your grandparents," he said.
The serious threat of coronavirus means no one should be encouraged to break the rules, but for those that do, it would be cheaper to do so in Wodonga rather than Albury.
If you choose to break the new law in Albury, the cost could be very steep.
The NSW government has announced penalties of six months in jail or a fine of up to $11,000, plus a further $5500 fine each day the offence continues.
But down in Victoria, the on-the-spot fines are up to $1652 - still hefty, but significantly lower than the fines north of the border.
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