COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY JULY 1 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.
ASIC Corporations (Approval of Variation of March 2020 Banking Code of Practice) Instrument 2020/602
- Approves the variation of the March 2020 Banking Code of Practice by inserting a COVID-19 Special Note.
Child Care Subsidy Amendment (Coronavirus Response Measures No. 4) Minister’s Rules 2020
- Introduces a number of new measures to support approved providers and individuals with children in care.
Child Care Subsidy (Extension of First Deadline) Instrument 2020
- Extends the period in which affected individuals are able to meet the Child Care Subsidy reconciliation conditions for the 2018-19 income year, from 30 June 2020 to 31 March 2021.
- Ensures the PGPA Act Determination (National Disability Research Special Account 2016) - Establishment will continue to operate until its replacement commences.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Act 2020
- Effectively waives the requirement for Great Barrier Reef Marine Park permission holders to remit the environmental management charge to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for the period 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2020.
- Extends the National Disability Insurance Scheme (‘NDIS’) registration exemption available to residential aged care providers under subsection 7(4) of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Provider Registration and Practice Standards) Rules 2018.
National Health (Continued Dispensing - Emergency Measures) Amendment Determination 2020 (No. 5)
- Makes changes to the pharmaceutical benefits eligible to be provided as a Continued Dispensing supply.
Social Security Legislation Amendment (Measures No. 1) Determination 2020
- Amends the Social Security (Asset test Exempt Income Stream (Market-linked) - Payment Factors) Principles 2017, and repeals the Social Security (Retention of exemption for asset-test exempt income streams) (DEEWR) Principles 2011 (No. 1).
Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices - Donor Screening) (COVID-19 Emergency) Exemption 2020
- Exempts relevant kinds of medical devices from certain provisions of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 in order to deal with the threat to public health caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 3) Act 2020
- Amends the law relating to taxation, international monetary agreements and the cash flow boost, and for related purposes.
- Restricts non-essential gatherings and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Order Under Section 318B of the Local Government Act 1993
- Orders that the election requirements of the Local Government Act 1993 in relation to the ordinary election that was due to be held on 12 September 2020 for all councils in New South Wales be further postponed until 4 September 2021.
Public Health (COVID-19 Air Transportation and Maritime Quarantine) Amendment Order (No 2) 2020
- Amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) Order (No 2) 2020 to deal with the public health risk of COVID-19 and its possible consequences.
Public Health (COVID-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) Order (No 2) 2020
- Directs that a person who arrives in New South Wales by aircraft and has been in a country other than Australia within 14 days before that arrival must undertake mandatory quarantine for a period of 14 days.
Public Health (COVID-19 Maritime Quarantine) Order (No 2) 2020
- Directs that a person who arrives in New South Wales by maritime vessel must undertake mandatory quarantine for a period of 14 days.
Extension of Operation of Declaration of Public Health Emergency
- Extends the operation of the declaration of the public health emergency made on 18 March 2020 for a period of 90 days.
Economic Development (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020
- Protects the health, safety and welfare of persons affected by the COVID-19 emergency, and facilitates the ongoing effective operation of the Economic Development Regulation 2013 component of the planning framework, by easing regulatory requirements and allowing for flexible responses in managing disruptions caused by the COVID19 pandemic and social distancing measures.
Education Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020
- Modifies legislative requirements to address education portfolio related issues that have arisen as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social restrictions under the authority of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020.
Justice Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response - Proceedings and Other Matters) Regulation 2020
- Ensures the continuance of public administration of justice agencies and judicial process and to protect the health, safety and welfare of persons affected by the COVID-19 pandemic involved in the justice system.
- Among other things, amends the Land (COVID-19 Emergency Response - Waiver and Deferral of Rents and Instalments) Regulation 2020 and the Retail Shop Leases and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020 to update cross-referenced provisions.
Planning (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020
- Grants necessary relief from the statutory requirements under the Planning Act 2016 that are impacted upon by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Waste Reduction and Recycling (Waste Levy Rates for 2020–2021) Amendment Regulation 2020
- Defers the waste levy increase of $5 per tonne for each type of waste that was due on 1 July until January 2021.
Direction Under Section 16 of the Public Health Act 1997 (Gatherings - No. 12)
- Restricts the operation of certain premises and services.
Direction Under Section 16 of the Public Health Act 1997 (Workplace COVID Plan - No. 1)
- Requires persons conducting a business or undertaking to implement certain measures.
Notice Under Section 20 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020
- Allows certain hearings of appeal under the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal Act 1993 to be heard in the approved manner.
Notice Under Section 23 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020
- Directs that, despite section 34 of the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999, the amount of motor tax payable under that provision for the 2020/2021 financial year is not to be altered from the amount payable under that provision in the 2019/2020 financial year, except with the approval of the Treasurer.
National COVID-19 Emergency (Holiday Travel Condition) Derestriction Notice 2020 (No.4)
- Removes certain travel condition restrictions on heavy vehicle travel times during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Occupational Safety and Health Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Repeal Regulations 2020
- Repeals the Occupational Safety and Health Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Regulations 2020 before sections 3-5 come into operation.
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
Australian Maritime Safety Authority:
Australian Securities and Investments Commission:
Safe Work Australia:
Therapeutic Goods Administration:
Department of Primary Industries:
SafeWork NSW:
Essential Services Commission:
Department of Transport:
WA Government:
- COVID-19 Response Bill to Support Health Care Workers
- Free Late Night Trains Back as COVID Restrictions Ease this Weekend
- WA Ready for the Next Phase of the COVID-19 Roadmap
WorkCover WA:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 8 July 2020.
