COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY JUNE 10 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.
- Declares the current COVID-19 pandemic as a situation of emergency for the purposes of subsection 42‑2A(1) of the Aged Care Act 1997.
- Excludes designated areas in Western Australia from the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Determination 2020 after 5 June 2020.
Defence Determination, Conditions of service Amendment Determination 2020 (No. 11)
- Provides a period of salary non-reduction for certain members of the Air Force, provides a partial resumption of overseas reunion travel benefits that were limited as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and removes certain sections in the Defence Determination 2016/19, Conditions of Service.
- Restricts non-essential gatherings and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Community Land Management Amendment (COVID-19) Regulation 2020
- Provides for certain matters under the Community Land Management Act 1989 for the purposes of responding to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strata Schemes Management Amendment (COVID-19) Regulation 2020
- Provides for certain matters under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 for the purposes of responding to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residential Tenancies COVID 19 Modification Notice Amendment (No. 2) 2020
- Amends the Residential Tenancies COVID-19 Modification Notice 2020.
Corrective Services (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020
- Prescribes modified requirements for Parole Board Queensland meetings under the Corrective Services Act 2006, statutory time limits for a declaration of emergency, additional attendance requirements for corrective services facilities, and attendance requirements for offenders in the community being managed by corrective services officers under these Acts - Corrective Services Act 2006, Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 or State Penalties Enforcement Act 1999, in reliance on sections 8 and 13 of the COVID-19 Response Act 2020.
Liquor (Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw) Amendment Regulation 2020
- Temporarily increases alcohol carriage limits and support the temporary sale of takeaway liquor in the Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw restricted areas during the declared COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Commercial Leases) Act 2020
- Provides for special measures, related to the social and financial effects of the COVID-19 disease in Tasmania, in relation to commercial leases.
Direction Under Section 16 of the Public Health Act 1997 (Gatherings - No. 10)
- Restricts the operation of certain premises and services.
Direction Under Section 16 of the Public Health Act 1997 (Residential Aged Care Facilities - No. 7)
- Directs persons not to enter or remain on the premises of a residential aged care facility except in certain circumstances.
COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) (Criminal Proceedings and Other Matters) Regulations 2020
- Modifies the application of various provisions of various Justice Acts.
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.
Extension of State of Emergency Declaration
- Extends the State of emergency declaration made on 15 March 2020 until 12 am on 11 June 2020.
Amendment to Notice of Accreditation Under the Resource Management Act 1991
- Amends the expiry date of certain accreditation qualifications referred to in the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 25 July 2013, No. 94, page 2523.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level 2) Order Revocation Order 2020
- Revokes the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level 2) Order 2020.
Family Court (Emergency) Amendment Rules 2020
- Facilitates the continuation of Family Court business during the outbreak of COVID-19 or any other emergency.
Notice of Termination of National Transition Period
- Terminates the national transition period over the whole of New Zealand owing to the impacts of COVID-19.
Notice Under the Food Act 2014 (Notice No. MPI 1156)
- Gives notice of the issue on 28 May 2020 of the Food Notice: Requirements For Food Businesses Operating Under Registered Food Control Plans or National Programmes During the COVID-19 Response which came into effect on 28 May 2020.
Notice Under the Social Security Act 2018
- Provides temporary non-recoverable special assistance to eligible people who have lost their employment due to the impacts of COVID-19.
Overseas Investment (Urgent Measures) Amendment Act 2020
- Improves New Zealand’s foreign investment screening regime and responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Amendment Regulations 2020
- Changes the date by which landlords must include in any new or renewed tenancy agreements a statement of their level of compliance with the Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Regulations 2019.
Social Security (COVID-19 Income Relief Payment to be Income) Amendment Act 2020
- Ensures that a payment received by a person under the COVID-19 Income Relief Payment Programme is treated as the person’s income for the purposes of the Social Security Act 2018.
- Allows the transit through New Zealand of citizens and permanent residents of Papua New Guinea, and citizens of Solomon Islands, to support the repatriation of stranded people to their home countries due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
- Allows the transit through New Zealand of citizens of Fiji, to support the repatriation of stranded people to their home countries due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
FROM THE REGULATORS
CASA:
- COVID-19 Exemptions for Aircraft Operators
- Fit to Fly - Safety Tips for Returning to GA Flying Post COVID-19
Department of Educations, Skills and Employment:
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator:
Safe Work Australia:
Dedicated Coronavirus (COVID-19) Webpage:
Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs:
QLD Government:
- Ambassadors Keeping Queenslanders COVID Safe
- COVID Safe Plans Mean More Customers for Qld Businesses
- Hardship Payment for Queenslander Workers during COVID-19
- Tourism Businesses to Reopen as COVID Safe Plan Approved Today
WorkSafe QLD:
Department of State Growth:
WA Government:
- COVID-19 Response Further Boosted by Latest PPE Delivery
- Fees Scrapped to Support More Than 3,000 Displaced Apprentices and Trainees
- Restrictions Lifted for Public Schools as WA Moves into Phase 3 of COVID Recovery
- Rottnest Island Reopens to Visitors as Phase 3 of COVID-19 Roadmap Commences
WorkCover WA:
Maritime NZ: COVID-19:
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment:
- Additional Budget 2020 Funding Announced Today for Research, Science and Innovation
- COVID-19: Spotlight on Regional New Zealand
- Draft Addendum to the Responsible Lending Code: COVID-19
- Tourism Recovery Plan Underway
Ministry of Health:
NZ Government:
- Critical Support for Strategic Tourism Assets
- National Transition Period Ends
- New Zealand Moves to Alert Level 1
- Supporting Kiwi Businesses to Resolve Commercial Rent Disputes
- Trade Strategy for the Recovery from the Impacts of Covid-19
- $4.6 Million Financial Relief for Professional Sports
WorkSafe NZ:
World Health Organisation:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 17 June 2020.
