Since the latest 'stay at home' COVID-19 restrictions came into force earlier this week we've been repeatedly asked whether they allow you to visit your partner living in another house.

Getting a straight answer has been difficult.

The Prime Minister announced on Sunday a tightening of the rules around gatherings and gave four acceptable reasons to leave the house: to do necessary shopping, to provide medical care or compassionate needs, to exercise, and to get to work or school when these cannot be done remotely.

He added that a family split across two houses could see each other. Did a boyfriend or girlfriend count as family? The ABC reported that advice from the Government "seemed to suggest" they would, but it was still not clear.

In any case, making this announcement law was up to the states.

Can I visit my partner? NSW - Yes, for care

- Yes, for care Vic - Yes

- Yes Qld - Yes, households can have two guests

- Yes, households can have two guests Tasmania - Yes, for social support or care

- Yes, for social support or care South Australia - Yes. It's not enforcing stay at home rules

- Yes. It's not enforcing stay at home rules NT - Yes. It's not enforcing stay at home rules

- Yes. It's not enforcing stay at home rules WA - Yes, households can have one guest

- Yes, households can have one guest ACT - Yes, households can have two guests

The exact wording of the new stay at home restrictions varies according to each state and territory, as does the interpretation.

It also appears to have varied over the last few days. A spokesperson for the NSW Government reportedly told media on Monday that residents would be banned from visiting their partners and friends at home.

Those who break the rules face $1000 on-the-spot fines.

Hack asked the NSW Government on Tuesday to clarify the rule. After a few hours in which it sought legal advice we were told: "Everyone is not to leave the house unless they have a reasonable excuse." The health order lists several such excuses, but none of them relate to visiting a partner.

We were also told this list was not exhaustive.

NSW Police declined to come on the show.

Then on Wednesday morning, NSW Police Commissioner Mike Fuller said visiting partners would be allowed for "caring reasons".

"Mental health is under care. Absolutely, under care. I think we have to look after each other, but don't take the whole family with you. Don't take your grandparents."

Have you been fined under the new powers? Message us on Facebook or send an email.

'We'll make an exemption': Victoria

That's the situation in NSW. In Victoria, which has a health order with very similar wording to NSW's, the official advice was initially the opposite.

On Monday, Premier Andrews said "having friends over for dinner or friends over for drinks that are not members of your household" is "breaking the law".

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville confirmed this the following day: "You cannot visit your partner for social reasons," she tweeted.

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However, on Wednesday afternoon the authorities backflipped. The Chief Health Officer tweeted that partners not living together could see each other.

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In summary, you can visit your partner in another house in Victoria.

In Tasmania, you can visit your partner. The rules allow visiting a person to provide social support or care.

The Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Thursday partners could visit. Households are allowed to have two additional guests at a time.

South Australia and the Northern Territory are not yet enforcing the stay at home rules the PM flagged on the weekend. That means you can visit your partner.

Both Western Australia and the ACT allow partners to visit. In the ACT households are allowed to have two additional guests at a time, and in WA one additional guest. WA has restrictions on regional travel, meaning you probably can't visit your partner if they're in a different region (unless it is on "compassionate grounds").

By the way, these laws only apply to whether you can visit your partner - whether you should get close to them is a whole separate issue.

The health advice is that you should take all the precautions you would with anyone else that you don't share a home with: no physical touch and keep your distance.

"You should not break the 2m rule, even with your own partner," ABC Health Report presenter Dr Norman Swan advised earlier this week.

"The problem here is you're not living with them so you're not quite sure what each other's doing or who you've come in contact with. That's the problem."