Federal cabinet has amended its restrictions on funeral attendance, allowing for minor exceptions in numbers in "hardship cases", subject to state or territory approval.

Adapting to the new restrictions, Ararat's John Dunn Funeral Services funeral director Ben Mills said he had already made changes to funeral plans this week.

"It's very tricky and everybody has different thoughts and feelings about it," he said.

"It has affected us. On average we'd have 80-100 people attend a service."

Mr Mills said he envisaged families would plan a small, private service then schedule a larger memorial service in the future once restrictions are lifted.

Owner of Fred Crouch and Sons Funeral Directors in Stawell Geoff Sanderson described the regulations as "devastating for families", and said he was working out ways to live-stream services so a larger audience could watch from their homes.

"We're feeling for all the families, it's going to be hard for some. How do you pick such a small number?"

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EARLIER: New restrictions on gatherings including weddings, funerals

SMALL, private funerals will become the norm after the federal government announced further restrictions to public gatherings on Tuesday night.

In additional limitations, including on places of worship, weddings will be restricted to the couple, two witnesses and a celebrant, while funerals will be limited to 10 people.

"But large gatherings for weddings, sadly, won't be possible under these new arrangements," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a press conference on Tuesday night.

"And sadly also - and I know this will be very difficult - funerals to no more than 10 persons observing the rules around the four square metre rule and social distancing practices."

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Owner of Horsham and District Funerals Bill Pitman said the move was simply a "sign of the times".

"It's just one of those things. You've just got to go with what the government outlays, otherwise if we flout the laws and people don't listen to us, well, there'll be no attendance, which would be sad to see," he said.

He said he was looking at ways he could live stream services in the future so people could witness the ceremony from their homes.

"Alternatives could be a small family ceremony, or a grave-site service," Mr Pitman said.

Social distancing, where each person present keeps four square metres to themselves, has already been made possible by Mr Pitman by holding services outside.

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