On Tuesday Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrived at his press conference alone before Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was also able to walk outside the ministerial wing and join his boss in the Prime Minister's Courtyard.
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It was just one of many requirements that Mr Frydenberg must follow while he is in Canberra for the economic statement to be delivered on Thursday. As the treasurer is from Melbourne, a city currently locked down in an attempt to stem the spread of coronavirus, his presence in the capital is tightly regulated.
Mr Frydenberg and two of his senior staffers must stay 1.5 metres away from others at all times, and if that isn't possible, wear masks, under the rules that allowed them to gain an exemption to travel to Canberra.
There are 12 rules in total for Mr Frydenberg and the senior advisors , who were required to get specific permission from ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman.
Victorians are not allowed to travel to NSW or the ACT due to the level of community transmission of coronavirus in the city of Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. On Tuesday the ACT had just three active cases of coronavirus.
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Under Dr Coleman's orders, the trio must minimise interactions with others. For interactions of 15 minutes or more where social distancing can't be maintained, face masks must be worn.
At Tuesday's press conference Mr Frydenberg entered and left the courtyard after Prime Minister Scott Morrison as the doorway did not allow for the distance required.
The men must be quarantined when not at work, and if leaving and arriving from hotel accommodation must take stairs to avoid touching lift buttons, and avoid touching hand rails.
They must remain in their accommodation and not use shared spaces like gyms or restaurants. Visitors are not allowed at their accommodation.
They must also keep records of who they interact with in case contact tracing is required.
Dr Coleman also ordered that if they travelled by air, the VIP plane available to ministers was to be used, but Commonwealth cars were preferable modes of travel in Canberra.
Other rules seem obvious in the face of the pandemic. If any of the travellers felt unwell before leaving the Victorian capital, they were not to come to Canberra. If they begin to feel even the mildest of symptoms while in Canberra, they must isolate and seek testing.
If they are diagnosed with coronavirus while in Canberra, they must contact ACT Health immediately.
The next parliamentary sitting has been cancelled due to the virus risk and talks are underway about how to conduct the sitting fortnight scheduled to start on August 24.
Sally Whyte
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
