COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 27 MAY 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 (Amendment) Instrument 2020/452
- Amends certain ASIC instruments to provide relief and extend deadlines, among other things.
ASIC Corporations (Extended Reporting and Lodgment Deadlines - Listed Entities) Instrument 2020/451
- Implements temporary measures aimed at facilitating financial reporting by listed entities whose reporting processes take additional time due to current remote work arrangements, travel restrictions and other impacts of COVID-19.
- Extends the operation of the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020 until 17 September 2020.
- Amends the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Determination 2020 to prevent or control the entry, emergence, establishment and spread of COVID-19 in designated areas in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
- Temporarily changes the requirements for a valid application for redress for the period of 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2020.
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No. 3) 2020
- Refines and clarifies elements of the JobKeeper scheme to ensure that it most appropriately supports businesses and employees affected by the significant economic impact caused by COVID-19.
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No. 4) 2020
- Extends the operation of the mechanism that allows authorised deposit-taking institutions to confirm that notices have been provided by the Commissioner of Taxation to entities concerning their election to participate in the JobKeeper payment scheme.
Corporations (Coronavirus Economic Response) Determination (No. 2) 2020
- Temporarily modifies the continuous disclosure provisions in the Corporations Act 2001 to facilitate the continuation of business in circumstances relating to COVID-19.
- Prescribes the National Communications Campaign to Support Small Business.
Liquor Amendment Regulation 2020 (No 2)
- Makes provision in relation to the circumstances in which the Commissioner for Fair Trading may waive or reduce fees.
Liquor (COVID-19 Emergency Response - Licence Fee Waiver) Declaration 2020
- Waives fees payable for certain liquor licences.
Liquor (COVID-19 Emergency Response - Permit Fee Waiver) Declaration 2020
- Waives fees payable for commercial liquor permits listed at item 507(1)(c) in the Liquor (Fees) Determination 2020, and fees payable for an application to amend a permit listed at item 508 in the Liquor (Fees) Determination 2020.
Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) COVID-19 Emergency Leave Determination 2020 (No 1)
- Determines the eligibility criteria and amount of leave for workers to apply for early access to their portable long service leave.
Justice and Other Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Amendment Act 2020
- Amends over 20 different Acts to safeguard the revenue streams for local governments, assist in minimising the economic impacts of COVID-19 on Queensland, allow certain workers to apply for payment of their long service leave, assist businesses and individuals suffering financial and operations stress, and assist the health and disability sectors to operate safely and effectively (amongst other things).
- Prescribes modified requirements or arrangements for the making, signing and witnessing of affidavits, statutory declarations, oaths, deeds, particular mortgages and general powers of attorney.
COVID-19 Emergency Response (Section 14) Regulations 2020
- Extends the term of appointment of David James Burgess under Section 9(1) of the South Australian Local Government Grants Commission Act 1992 for 6 months.
Direction Under Section 16 of the Public Health Act 1997 (Gatherings - No. 8)
- Restricts the operation of certain premises and services.
Direction Under Section 16 of the Public Health Act 1997 (Residential Aged Care Facilities - No. 5)
- Directs persons not to enter or remain on the premises of a residential aged care facility except in certain circumstances.
Direction Under Section 16 of the Public Health Act 1997 (Stay at Home Requirements - No. 4)
- Directs persons in Tasmania to remain at their primary place of residence except for certain activities.
Notice Under Section 13 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020
- Declares that the further period specified in Section 53(5)(c) of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993, at the end of which a permit lapses, is extended by a period of 6 months if the permit was in effect immediately before 22 May 2020.
Notice Under Section 19 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020
- Allows certain documents or information to be made available for inspection electronically or in hard copy, and submissions to be made electronically, despite Sections 145 and 146 of the Water Management Act 1999.
Notice Under Section 19 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020
- Allows certain documents or information to be made available for inspection electronically or in hard copy, and submissions to be made electronically, despite certain sections of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993.
COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) (Integrity Entities) Regulations 2020
- Modifies the application of various provisions of certain Acts to further provide for service, attendance by audio visual link and related matters.
Restricted Activity Directions (No. 8)
- Restricts the operation of certain businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Stay at Home Directions (No. 7)
- Requires persons to limit their interactions with others.
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.
Mandatory Testing (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2020
- Prescribes COVID-19 for the purposes of paragraph (d) of the definition of "infectious disease" under the Mandatory Testing (Infectious Diseases) Act 2014.
Auckland Transport Emergency Speed Limit
- Sets an emergency speed limit at certain locations in Auckland.
COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Act 2020
- Introduces 2 tiers of amendments that will assist New Zealand to respond to the wide-ranging effects of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Response (Requirements for Entities - Modifications and Exemptions) Act 2020
- Provides processes for an entity affected by COVID-19 to use electronic means for doing things in certain circumstances, and to modify certain requirements or restrictions in its constitution or rules in certain circumstances.
Dunedin City Council Emergency Speed Limits
- Sets an emergency speed limit at certain locations in Dunedin City Council.
- Temporarily suspends requirements for owners of buildings to conduct 6-monthly trial evacuations and to notify and implement 6-monthly evacuation training programmes from the time when these regulations come into force and for the remainder of the period when the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 is in force.
Food (Exemption from Compliance with Verification Requirements) Regulations 2020
- Exempts certain non-essential food businesses from verification requirements set out in the Food Regulations 2015.
Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Act 2020
- Amends the Immigration Act 2009 to provide additional flexibility in the immigration system.
Remuneration Authority (COVID-19 Measures) Amendment Act 2020
- Permits the Remuneration Authority to reduce the remuneration for certain roles within certain limits.
- Allows the transit through New Zealand of citizens and residents of the Czech Republic and Singapore to support the repatriation of stranded people to their home countries due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Wellington City Council - Miramar Peninsula Emergency Speed Limit
- Sets an emergency speed limit at certain locations in Wellington City Council.
FROM THE REGULATORS
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator:
NOPSEMA:
Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner:
Therapeutic Goods Administration:
ACT Government:
Dedicated Coronavirus (COVID-19 Webpage):
WorkSafe ACT:
Transport for NSW:
Department of Environment and Science:
QLD Government:
- Jobs Supported Through $200M Council Program
- New Resources to Guide Volunteers and Organisations with Volunteers During Pandemics
- Qld COVID-19 - Wed May 20: More Regional Stimulus / Testing Important
- Queensland Tourism Boost to Unite and Recover from COVID-19
- $100 Million in Small Business Grants and Training to Combat COVID-19
- $900,000 COVID-19 Package to Support Vulnerable Communities
SafeWork SA:
SA Health:
WorkSafe Tasmania:
Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions:
Victorian Government:
Department of Health:
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety:
WA Government:
EPA:
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment:
Ministry of Health:
- COVID-19 Health and Wellbeing Survey Results Released
- Feedback on the COVID-19 Psychosocial and Mental Wellbeing Recovery Plan
- More Choice of Mental Health and Wellbeing Support for Young People
- NZ COVID Tracer App Released to Support Contact Tracing
NZ Government:
- Government Exempts Some Home Improvements from Costly Consents
- Inquiry into the Operation of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020
- New Payment to Support Kiwis Through COVID
- PGF Reset Helps Regional Economies
WorkSafe:
World Health Organisation:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 3 June 2020.
