Churches say a ruling by the government to consider places of worship as workplaces provides clarity, but has not led to significant changes to plans for broadcasts of Easter services.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday churches and places of worship would be considered "workplaces" - to allow for more than two people to be at indoor gatherings.
Many Christian faiths celebrate Easter next weekend, and while live-streaming of services has been embraced, services for what is for many the most holy time of the year involve more than a single member of the clergy. Clarification of the rules was requested to allow streamed services to go ahead.
Classifying places of worship as workplaces means more than two people are allowed to be in the indoor space, as long as physical distancing rules are followed.
"For those who are participating in presenting the service, conducting the service will apply as they do in other places of work," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
"Particularly for orthodox religions, where particularly when it comes up around Easter, there are additional cantors and there are additional other religious ecclesiastical roles that are played in those services, that means there can be additional people that are taking part in the celebration of those services."
It doesn't mean that members of a congregation can attend the service, but priests and others involved in the service and the broadcast can be there.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn will begin live-streaming services this weekend with the Palm Sunday service, and will hold five services across Holy Week by live-stream.
Friday's announcement by the prime minister gave them the certainty needed to go ahead, a spokeswoman said, with fewer than ten people including the Archbishop, readers and those involved in filming, to be in the room.
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The Greek Orthodox church celebrates Easter in two weeks, and may allow extra chanters to be involved in the service after the ruling, Father Petros Kipouros from Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox church said.
"This year will be very hard for Greek Orthodox people," Father Kipourous said, explaining it would be hard for the community not to come together at this important time of year.
The Anglican churches had already been streaming services by Zoom and will continue to do so.
The local Jewish community has been streaming its ceremonies by Zoom for three weeks, Rabbi Elhanan Miller said.
"Regardless of government regulations, given the ageing population of our community it would be irresponsible of us to hold prayer services of more than 10 people," he said.
Being able to observe the ceremonies "has brought solace" during a difficult time, Rabbi Miller said.
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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.
