COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY JUNE 24 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 intended to be 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 being frequently updated and revoked. The URLs provided may no longer be maintained by the relevant legislative website, after the release date.
- Excludes the Maralinga Tjarutja Lands, the Point Pearce community and the Nepabunna community in South Australia from the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Determination 2020.
CASA EX90/20 - Helicopter Aircrew Members Amendment Instrument 2020 (No. 1)
- Extends the deadline for the training requirements set out in CASA EX131/19 from 30 June 2020 to 31 December 2020, as travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic have made it impracticable to conduct the training by 30 June 2020.
- Amends the Export Market Development Grants (Export Performance Requirements) Instrument 2018 so that the Instrument will not apply for grant year 2019-20.
Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Coronavirus Economic Response) Rules 2020
- Assists people, who have been affected by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, to be eligible for parental leave pay or dad and partner pay under the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010.
Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response - 2020 Measures No. 11) Determination 2020
- Extends qualification for income support payments and concession, where a recipient would otherwise cease to qualify due to a change in their or their partner’s employment income.
- Restricts non-essential gatherings and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Parking Space Levy Amendment (COVID-19 Indexation of Levy) Regulation 2020
- Amends the Parking Space Levy Regulation 2019 to provide that the base rate of the levy under clause 9 for the financial year beginning 1 July 2020 is to remain the same as the base rate of the levy in the financial year beginning 1 July 2019 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Point to Point Transport (Authorisation Fees) Exemption Order 2020
- Waives $500 of the authorisation fee otherwise payable under clause 45 of the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hires Vehicles) Regulation 2017 for the financial year 2018-2019 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Point to Point Transport (Licence Fees for Annual Taxi Licences) Exemption Order 2020
- Reduces by 50 per cent the licence fee for an annual taxi licence otherwise payable under section 62 of the Point to Point Transport (Taxis and Hires Vehicles) Act 2016 for the financial year 2019-2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Health (COVID-19 Aged Care Facilities) Order (No 2) 2020
- For 90 days, restricts persons entering or remaining on the premises of residential aged care facilities.
Public Health (COVID-19 Lord Howe Island) Order (No 2) 2020
- Restricts access to and from Lord Howe lsland to deal with the public health risk of COVID-19 and its possible consequences.
Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 2) 2020
- Directs that a person diagnosed with COVID-19 must immediately travel to a residence or place that has been determined to be suitable for the person to reside in or to a hospital for assessment.
Community Services Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Act 2020
- Establishes a Portable Long Service Leave scheme for the community services industry in Queensland.
Transport Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation (No. 2) 2020
- Provides financial relief to commercial operators in State-managed boat harbours, and provides a framework that will enable exemptions from, or otherwise modify the application of, requirements about certain marine authorities.
Directions in Relation to Persons Arriving in Tasmania
- Directs persons arriving in Tasmania to answer certain questions, self-isolate at certain accommodation and comply with lawful directions of an authorised officer.
Direction Under Section 16 of the Public Health Act 1997 (Gatherings - No. 11)
- Restricts the operation of certain premises and services.
Extension of Emergency Declaration Under Section 15 of the Public Health Act 1997
- Extends the period during which the emergency declaration is in force for a further period of 12 weeks commencing on 8 June 2020.
- Extends the period for which a licence granted under the Property Agents and Land Transactions Act 2016, that specifies 30 June 2020 as the end of the term of the licence, is valid by 3 months.
- Amends the period for which certain permits are in effect under the Building Act 2016.
Notice Under Section 17 of the Covid-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020
- Provides for servicing of certain documents and conduct of certain actions by electronic means.
Notice Under Section 23 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020
- Directs that, despite section 10 of the Land Tax Act 2000, land tax is not payable under that provision in respect of land, by the person who is the owner of the land for the purposes of that Act, for the financial year beginning on 1 July 2019, if the total amount of land tax assessed under that Act as being payable by that person is less than $150 for that financial year.
Revocation of Direction Under Section 16 (Stay at home requirements - No. 5)
- Revokes the direction given by the Acting Director of Public Health, under section 16 of the Act on 17 May 2020 and entitled Stay at home requirements - No. 5.
- Revokes, from 3:00pm on 5 June 2020, the directions made on 15 May 2020 in relation to travel to King Island, Flinders Island and islands in the Furneaux group of islands.
Care Facilities Directions (No. 5)
- Provides for restricted access to care facilities in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 within a particularly vulnerable population.
Diagnosed Persons and Close Contacts Directions (No. 3)
- Requires persons diagnosed with COVID-19, to self-isolate, and persons living with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to self-quarantine.
Extension of Declaration of a State of Emergency
- Extends the declaration of a state of emergency made on 16 March 2020 until 11:59 PM on 19 July 2020.
Hospital Visitor Directions (No. 6)
- Prohibits non-essential visits to hospitals in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Restricted Activity Directions (No. 10)
- Restricts the operation of certain businesses and undertaking to limit the spread of COVID-19.
- Requires persons to limit their interactions with other by placing restrictions on gatherings and return to workplaces.
Extension of Declaration (No. 2) of Public Health State of Emergency
- Extends the public health state of emergency declaration, which came into effect on 23 March 2020, for 14 days.
Public Health (Notifiable Infectious Diseases) Order (No. 2)
- Declares Human coronavirus to be a notifiable infectious disease and an urgently notifiable infectious disease.
Addendum to the Responsible Lending Code
- Notifies the amendment of the Responsible Lending Code to provide guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Department of Education, Skills and Employment:
- Impact of COVID-19 on Australian businesses - Part Three
- Job Jumpstart: Helping Job Seekers Affected by COVID-19
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications:
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator:
Safe Work Australia:
Therapeutic Goods Administration:
State Insurance Regulatory Authority:
NT WorkSafe:
QLD Government:
- Jobs drive banks $10 million on new economy minerals as part of COVID-19 plan
- Major Stimulus, While Restrictions Ease, in a Week of One New Case
- National Parks Funding to Create Jobs as Part of Economic Recovery Plan
- Queensland WorkCover Premiums Remain Lowest in the Country
- $23m to Unite and Recover for Qld Taxi and Limo Operators
Department of Health and Human Services:
- Advice for Prescribers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Advice to Pharmacists Supplying Medicines During the COVID-19 Pandemic
EPA:
VIC Government:
WorkSafe Victoria:
WA Government:
WorkCover WA:
NZ Government:
- Compassionate Exemptions Temporarily Suspended
- GDP Shows Expected Impacts of Moves to Protect Kiwis Against COVID-19
- Govt Doubles Rent Arrears Support as Tenancy Termination Restrictions Lift
- Govt Increases Support for Drought-Stricken Farmers
- Keeping Work Safe and Fair During And Post COVID-19
- Next Steps for Managed Isolation and Quarantine Facilities
World Health Organisation:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 1 July 2020.
