COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER 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.
Child Care Subsidy Amendment (Coronavirus Response Measures No. 8) Minister’s Rules 2020
- Amends the Child Care Subsidy Minister’s Rules 2017 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to strengthen compliance.
- Reduces the rate of duty on prescribed medical products or hygiene products required in the response to the COVID‑19 pandemic to ‘Free’.
Notice of Intention to Propose Customs Tariff Alterations - Notice (No. 3) 2020
- Gives notice of the intention to propose a Customs Tariff alteration in relation to certain goods.
Therapeutic Goods (Standard for Disinfectants and Sanitary Products) Amendment Order 2020
- Amends the Therapeutic Goods (Standard for Disinfectants and Sanitary Products) (TGO 104) Order 2019 to include two additional organisms (E. coli and S. aureus) for hospital grade disinfectants and updates the virucidal testing requirements relating to COVID-19 virus.
Treasury Laws Amendment (2020 Measures No. 5) Act 2020
- Amends the law relating to taxation and superannuation, and for related purposes.
Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction 2020 (No 6)
- Implements new quarantine requirements to limit the spread of COVID-19 - came into force at 11:59 pm on 18 December 2020.
Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction 2020 (No 7)
- Repeals the Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction 2020 (No 6) and implements new quarantine requirements to limit the spread of COVID-19 - came into force at 11:59 pm on 18 December 2020.
Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction 2020 (No 8)
- Repeals the Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction 2020 (No 7) and implements new quarantine requirements to limit the spread of COVID-19 - came into force at 11:59 pm on 20 December 2020.
- Restricts non-essential gatherings and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction 2020 (No 9)
- Revokes and replaces the Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction (No 8) and implements new quarantine of affected persons.
Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Declaration Extension 2020
- Extends the definition of ‘transitional period’ in the Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Declaration 2020 (No 3) for 3 months.
- Prescribes the day on which the COVID-19 emergency period ends.
- Amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) Order (No 4) 2020 in relation to the quarantining or self-isolation of flight crew.
Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020
- Imposes additional restrictions on persons in the Northern Beaches local government area to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Amendment Order 2020
- Extends the Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020 (the principal Order) to certain persons who resided or stayed in the Northern Beaches local government area, before commencement of the principal order.
Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) Amendment Order 2020
- Amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) 2020 in relation to COVID-19 Safety Plans and outdoor rehearsals and performances, among other things.
- Amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) 2020 to impose stricter requirements for the number of persons able to attend premises, including temporary stricter requirements on the number of persons permitted at residential premises, and new requirements on hospitality venues, places of public worship and religious services in Greater Sydney.
Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 5) 2020
- Repeals and remakes, with minor amendments, the Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 4) 2020.
Public Health (COVID-19 Spitting and Coughing) Order (No 4) 2020
- Repeals and remakes, with minor changes, the Public Health (COVID-19 Spitting and Coughing) Order (No 3) 2020.
Public Health Amendment (COVID-19 Spitting and Coughing) Regulation (No 4) 2020
- Allows for the issue of penalty notices for a contravention of a Ministerial direction under the Public Health (COVID-19 Spitting and Coughing) Order (No 4) 2020 about intentionally spitting or coughing on a public official or other worker in a way that is likely to cause fear about the spread of COVID-19.
- Extends the period of the declared public health emergency to ensure the Queensland Government can continue to respond to any outbreak of COVID-19 in Queensland and to allow for emergency powers to be used to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in Queensland.
Direction Under Section 16 (Contact Tracing - No. 3)
- Requires owners and occupiers of certain premises to keep specified information, and refuse entry to a person who fails to provide that information.
Direction Under Section 16 (Isolation - No. 3)
- Requires persons diagnosed with COVID-19 to isolate at a suitable place.
Direction Under Section 16 (Management of Premises - No. 9)
- Restricts gatherings at residential and other premises.
Direction Under Section 16 (Testing of Persons Involved in International Arrivals - No. 1)
New South Wales Border Crossing Permit Scheme Directions (No 2)
- Replaces the New South Wales Border Crossing Permit Scheme Directions and prevents prohibited persons who have resided in, visited, been in, or travelled through a hot zone in NSW from entering Victoria, with exceptions - came into force 11:59 pm on 20 December 2020.
Stay Safe Directions (Victoria) (No 5)
- Requires residents of Victoria to wear face coverings and limit interactions with others by restricting gatherings - came into force at 11.59 pm on 16 December 2020.
Stay Safe Directions (Victoria) (No 6)
- Repeals and remakes the Stay Safe Directions (Victoria) (No 5) to require face coverings to be worn at an airport in the State of Victoria - came into force at 11:59 pm on 18 December 2020.
- Limits the number of Victorians attending work premises to assist in reducing the frequency and scale of COVID-19 outbreaks - came into force at 11:59 pm on 16 December 2020.
Extension of State of Emergency Declaration
- Extends the State of emergency made on 15 March 2020 for fourteen days.
Pay-roll Tax Relief (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Regulations 2020
- Amends the Pay-roll Tax Relief (COVID-19 Response) Regulations 2020 in relation to apprenticeship commencements subsidised exempt wages.
- Amends the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border and Isolation and Quarantine) Amendment Order (No 2) 2020 to change the commencement date from 23 December to 20 December 2020.
Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 Renewal Notice (No 3) 2020
- Renews the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020, as required every 3 months.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Premier of Victoria:
Victorian Government:
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment:
Ministry of Health:
NZ Government:
World Health Organisation:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 6 January 2020.