COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2020
Please find below a selection of recent legislation changes relating to COVID-19 and communications for workplaces from key safety and environmental regulators in Australia and New Zealand.
This update is provided on a weekly basis.
LEGISLATION CHANGES
Please note: the legislation in this update was current at time of release. Legislation around COVID-19 is frequently updated and revoked. The URLs provided may no longer be maintained by the relevant legislative website, after the release date.
- Ceases, from 1 September 2020, temporary aged care funding increases payable to approved aged care providers announced by the Australian Government on 20 March 2020.
- Ceases, from 1 September 2020, temporary aged care funding increases payable to approved aged care providers announced by the Australian Government on 20 March 2020.
ASIC Corporations (Hardship Withdrawals Relief) Instrument 2020/778
- Addresses the impediments in Chapter 5C of the Corporations Act 2001 to a responsible entity of a registered scheme making withdrawal payments to individual members on hardship grounds, in anticipation of increased demand from investors to realise their investments due to the impact of COVID-19.
- Amends the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Cruise Ships) Determination 2020 to provide that the requirements are in effect for the duration of the human biosecurity emergency period.
- Exempts a group of applicants for the commercial pilot licence with the helicopter category rating (CPL(H)) from a flight training requirement under Part 61 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 due to disruptions to training caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Health (Continued Dispensing - Emergency Measures) Amendment Determination 2020 (No. 7)
- Makes changes to the pharmaceutical benefits eligible to be provided as a Continued Dispensing supply.
Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response - 2020 Measures No. 14) Determination 2020
- Extends the period in respect of which the COVID-19 supplement will be paid to recipients of JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, Austudy Payment, Special Benefit, Partner Allowance and Widow Allowance.
Veterans' Entitlements (Provisional Access to Medical Treatment) Amendment Determination No. 2 2020
- Extends the intake period of the Provisional Access to Medical Treatment Trial by twelve months and the closing date of the provision of treatment under the Trial by twelve months.
- Restricts non-essential gatherings and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19
Public Health (Returned Travellers) Emergency Direction 2020 (No 7)
- Restricts non-essential gatherings and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Public Health (Self-Isolation) Emergency Direction 2020 (No 3)
- Restricts non-essential gathering and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
- Exempts the organisation, conduct or participation in certain wedding services from the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 4) 2020.
Public Health (COVID-19 Lord Howe Island) Order (No 4) 2020
- Restricts access to and from Lord Howe Island to deal with the public health risk of COVID-19 and its possible consequences.
- Requires party bus operators to develop and comply with a COVID-19 Safety Plan, and to ensure a minimum of 4 square metres of space for each person on the bus.
Public Holidays Amendment (COVID-19 Revocations) Order (No 3) 2020
- Revokes the declaration of a part-day public holiday from 12 midday to 6 pm on 2 September 2020 for certain parts of the Bland Shire local government area, as the agricultural show scheduled for that day has been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Directions (No. 50) 2020 - Directions for Freight Workers
- Requires certain freight workers to develop, submit and comply with a freight risk mitigation management plan, practise social distancing measures, quarantine and make certain declarations.
COVID-19 Directions (No. 51) - Maritime Crew
- Requires certain crew members entering the Northern Territory to submit to a screening procedure for COVID-19, quarantine, or make certain declarations.
Disaster Management (Further Extension of Disaster Situation - COVID-19) Regulation (No. 5) 2020
- Further extends the period of the disaster situation declared for the whole of the State of Queensland on 22 March 2020.
Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 13) (COVID-19) Direction 2020
- Prohibits entry to South Australia from Victoria except in certain circumstances, requires persons entering South Australia from somewhere other than Victoria to self-quarantine, and requires certain essential travellers to wear a surgical face mask at certain times, among other things.
Directions in Relation to Persons Arriving in Tasmania from Affected Regions and Premises
- Directs that affected persons may only enter Tasmania if they are an authorised person, and requires affected persons who are not authorised persons to leave Tasmania as soon as possible, isolate at an accommodation facility and answer questions if required by an authorised officer.
Directions in Relation to Persons Arriving in Tasmania (General)
- Requires certain persons who arrive in Tasmania after 24 August 2020 to answer certain questions, self-isolate at certain accommodation and comply with lawful directions of an authorised officer.
National COVID-19 Emergency (Holiday Travel Condition) Derestriction Notice 2020 (No.6)
- Removes certain travel condition restrictions on heavy vehicle travel times during the COVID-19 human biosecurity emergency.
Stay at Home Directions (Non-Melbourne) (No 4)
- Requires persons who ordinarily reside in the relevant area to limit their interactions with others by restricting circumstances in which they may leave the residence and the relevant area, restricting gatherings and prohibiting private gatherings - came into force at 11:59 pm on 27 August 2020.
Stay at Home Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 14)
- Requires persons who ordinarily reside in the restricted area to limit their interactions with others by restricting circumstances in which they may leave the residence and the restricted area, restricting gatherings, and prohibiting private gatherings - came into force at 11:59 pm on 27 August 2020.
Extension of Declaration (No. 2) of Public Health State of Emergency
- Extends the public health state of emergency declaration which commenced on 23 March 2020 for fourteen days.
Extension of State of Emergency Declaration
- Extends the State of Emergency declaration made on 15 March 2020 for fourteen days.
Gene Technology Amendment Regulations 2020
- Provides for particular COVID-19 vaccine exempt dealings.
Amendment to the Responsible Lending Code
- Gives notice of amendment of the Responsible Lending Code to extend the term of the addendum to the Responsible Lending Code: COVID-19.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order 2020
- Implements the change in the Auckland region from alert level 3 to alert level 2.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Required Testing) Order 2020
- Requires the testing and medical examination certain affected persons.
- Exempts registered banks and licensed non-bank deposit taking entities from Clause 18(1)(f) of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order (No 2) 2020, subject to conditions.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Safe Work Australia:
- Cleaning Checklist - COVID-19
- How to Clean and Disinfect Your Workplace - COVID-19
- Special Arrangements for 1 July 2020 to 1 January 2021
Therapeutic Goods Administration:
- Cordelia International Fined $13,320 for Alleged Unlawful Importation of Medical Face Masks in Relation to COVID-19
- GenesisCare Fined $12,600 for Alleged Unlawful Importation of KN95 Face Masks in Relation to COVID-19
- Medical Sales & Service Fined $12,600 for Alleged Unlawful Importation of Anaesthetic Face Masks
- Regulation of Personal Protective Equipment and COVID-19
- Regulation of Thermometers and Other Temperature Measuring Medical Devices and Products for COVID-19
- Ventilators Permitted for Supply under COVID-19 Emergency Exemption
- Yarra Valley Cleaning Co Fined $39,960 for Alleged Unlawful Advertising of a Disinfectant Product in Relation to COVID-19
Department of Primary Industries:
NSW Government:
Parliament of NSW:
The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory:
SA Government: COVID-19 Update:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 9 September 2020.
