Critical construction, hotel and financial workers will be next in line for relaxed isolation rules but their coverage is likely to be so narrow as to exclude most commercial work.
Retailers, pubs, cafes and restaurants are pleading for state governments to further relax isolation rules but unions are vowing to maintain safety laws.
Sydney restaurants and cafes hope NSW’s reopening can set an example for the rest of the country but staff shortages have forced many to reduce their trading hours.
NSW will seek to lead Australia out of the lockdown era by pressuring tens of thousands of workers in western Sydney to have their first vaccination by August 30 if they want to work outside their local area.