Federal, state and territory leaders will meet to consider stage three, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying “the issue of hitting higher thresholds and other measures is a matter that is being discussed by the national cabinet”.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told media stage three may need to occur “in different parts of the country at different times”.
“That’s one of the reasons why national cabinet will again be meeting tonight, to talk about that and a whole range of other issues,” he said.
While addressing the media on Wednesday, the premier warned his state that stage three was coming.
“I want to tell all Victorians today there will be a stage three. That’s not to be announced today, that’s not yet determined, but it is coming. There will be a stage three,” he said.
“The exact nature of those measures, the timing of that, when that occurs, I will stand here and I will very clearly and directly explain to every single Victorian what they need to do at that stage.”
Stage two measures will come into force in Australia at midnight, which will see another swath of businesses close.
The crackdown will see venues such as beauty salons, play centres, wedding venues, community and recreation centres, galleries and museums forced to shut their doors.
More than 2300 cases of COVID-19 have now been confirmed in Australia, with 1029 of those in NSW.
Eight people have died, with the latest death being a passenger from the Ruby Princess cruise ship which docked in Sydney last week.
