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Byron Shire
June 3, 2026

COVID-19 Restriction Checker for the confused (all of us)

Latest News

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Saying Goodbye to a Very Handsome Man

Last week an old friend of mine died. His name was Gary Cook. We met here in Byron Bay, when I was 23. He would have been in his early 30s. He was handsome. And funny. And weird. And self-involved. He used to come to Ringos, where I worked as a waitress. He’d sing to himself, bludge cigarettes, and shine up the serviette holder. He loved looking at himself. He’d laugh and say, ‘God, I’m a handsome man,’ and then he’d laugh this really infectious laugh

Other News

Tweed Shire fisher faces court

A Tweed Shire commercial fisher pleaded guilty last week to six offences in relation to illegal fishing activity.

Shop local and support your local businesses

Local Mullumbimby businesses say they have been facing a challenging time and are encouraging locals and visitors to shop local.

Space lasers

Soon there will be space lasers that can melt pimples while you’re lying on the beach and shoot down...

Byron Spaces Gallery hosts Ocean Magic exhibition

Ocean Magic, a new winter exhibition by local artist Yvonne Fenech, will open at Byron Spaces Gallery on Friday 5 June.

Australian classic comes to Byron Theatre

A major new stage adaptation of Jessica Anderson’s Miles Franklin Award-winning novel Tirra Lirra by the River will come to Byron Theatre in a limited season from 5 to 13 June.

Mute Albo

On 19 May, I wrote to Albo thanking him for being PM instead of Dutton, Ley, Taylor or Hanson. Then...

COVID-19 Restriction Checker is an online tool with up-to-date information.

Between states, between regions and sometimes between neighbourhoods, the constant updates to health regulations mean that often we may be in danger of receiving a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) over breaches of the Public Health Act because we just did’t know.

If you’re confused about what you can and can’t do under the constantly changing COVID restrictions the COVID-19 Restriction Checker is an online tool that helps you work out what you need to know about restrictions.

Healthy North Coast CEO Julie Sturgess is encouraging people to make use of the checker. ‘It’s been developed by the national, government-owned Healthdirect organisation.

‘It’s regularly updated so you can feel confident that you’re getting the latest information and is useful for people who might be needing to cross borders

There is a lot of information about what you need to know about restrictions for: accommodation; cafes and restaurants; domestic travel; entertainment venues; weddings, funerals and religion.

The site has information from knowing when and where it is mandatory to wear a face mask to carrying your proof of address or visiting friends and relatives.

The resource also offers information about the latest COVID-19 government advice and orders, hotspots, and testing clinics.

Visit www.healthdirect.gov.au/covid19-restriction-checker/activity for more information.


Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19

COVID-19 reduces Australian life expectancy

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Life shows life expectancy in Australia has decreased slightly for the second year in a row.

Wuhan market increasingly likely origin point for COVID-19

An international team of researchers has found more evidence that COVID-19 came from animals in a Wuhan food market.

Editorial – There’s a bat in my lab! 

The lab-leak theory that Covid-19 came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology – instead of a nearby wet market – was thrashed about in public recently, with the US Senate Homeland Security Committee holding a hearing into Covid-19. 

Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week.

COVID-19 pandemic has cut life expectancy globally

COVID-19 reversed earlier trends toward longer life expectancies. During the pandemic, life expectancies globally dropped by 1.6 years according to a new study published in the Lancet medical journal.

COVID-19 update for New South Wales

Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day.

Five graphs you need to see before the Global Carbon Budget...

The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing.

Public transport mask mandate to end

Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September.

NSW Police: be COVID-vigilant at Splendour in the Grass

SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures.

COVID-19 update for the NNSWLHD – May 23

The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU.

 



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No thanks, Greens

Yes Duncan Dey (Letters, 27 May), Australia could deliver a full-throated verbal shirtfront that might appease the algorithmically outraged (though I doubt it). But...

Potholes 

As a relatively regular visitor to this area I was astounded, on trips to Byron Bay, at the number of huge potholes in the...

Roadworks an upgrade?

I hope that Council kept their receipt for the Mullumbimby Road upgrade. Not even a year old and falling apart. Hopefully it’s still under...

Rail trail funding 2

No rail trail funding. As usual, the local federal Labor member for Richmond, Justine Elliot and the local state Labor member for Lismore, Janelle...