COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 7 OCTOBER 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. 7) Minister's Rules 2020
- Extends the relaxation of the CCS activity test to help those impacted by COVID-19 to get back into their workforce participation until 4 April 2021, among other things.
Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (Reporting Standard) Determination No. 9 of 2020
- Determines Reporting Standard ARS 920.0 Australian Government Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Guarantee Scheme Phase 1.
Financial Sector (Collection of Data) (Reporting Standard) Determination No. 10 of 2020
- Determines Reporting Standard ARS 920.2 Australian Government Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Guarantee Scheme Phase 2.
National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Responsible Lending Obligations) Regulations 2020
- Makes a targeted adjustment to the regulatory settings pertaining to responsible lending obligations.
- Changes the date of repeal of some of the provisions contained in National Health (Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Instrument 2012, and National Health (Highly specialised drugs program) Special Arrangement 2010 from 1 October 2020 to 1 April 2021.
Part 101 Manual of Standards (Miscellaneous Amendments) Instrument 2020 (No. 1)
- Makes a number of minor or machinery amendments to the Part 101 (Unmanned Aircraft and Rockets) Manual of Standards 2019.
- Changes existing entries in the Poisons Standard, includes of a number of specified substances in the Poisons Standard for the first time, and amends the salbutamol entry in Schedule 3 for the purpose of easing and clarifying the restrictions that were imposed on the dispensing of salbutamol (among other things).
- Specifies that a declaration of conformity made by a manufacturer under clauses 6.6 or 7.5 of Schedule 3 to the Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices) Regulations 2002 must accompany an application for inclusion in relation to a Class I medical device or Class I system or procedure pack (respectively) that the manufacturer intends to be supplied in a non-sterile state and that does not have a measuring function.
VET Student Loans Amendment Rules (No.2) 2020
- Waives the payment of the VSL tuition protection levy for all approved course providers for the calendar year 2020.
VET Student Loans Amendment Rules (No. 3) 2020
- Extends the period students are temporarily exempt from the requirement to pay loan fees associated with VET student loans until 30 June 2021.
Public Health Amendment (COVID-19 Border Control) Regulation (No 2) 2020
- Makes minor amendments to the Public Health Regulation 2012 consequential on the making of the Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Order (No 2) 2020, which is proposed to commence at the beginning of 2 October 2020, to update the types of offences that may be dealt with by way of penalty notice.
Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Order (No 2) 2020
- Restricts entry into New South Wales of persons who have been in Victoria, subject to certain exceptions.
Stronger Communities Legislation Amendment (Courts and Civil) Act 2020
- Amends various Acts and regulations relating to courts and to other Communities and Justice portfolio matters.
Disaster Management (Further Extension of Disaster Situation - COVID-19) Regulation (No. 6) 2020
- Further extends the period of the disaster situation declared for the whole of the State of Queensland on 22 March 2020.
Family Responsibilities Commission (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020
- Facilitates the continuance of public administration and protect the health, safety and welfare of people affected by the COVID-19 emergency in the communities of Aurukun, Coen, Doomadgee, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge by enabling the continued operation of the Family Responsibilities Commission (FRC) and the Family Responsibilities Board (FRB) during the COVID-19 emergency in reliance on sections 8 and 17 of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020.
- Protects persons in the community titles sector during the COVID-19 emergency, ensure continued access to certain dispute resolution, validates the waiver of certain fees, provides financial relief to inbound tourism operators, and provides the power to extend timeframes for certain financial statements.
- 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.
- Makes amendments that will help the residential tenancy and rooming accommodation sectors transition tenancy arrangements back to normal RTRA Act processes, rights and protections when the eviction moratorium ends on 29 September 2020.
- Extends the response period under the Retail Shop Leases and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020 until 31 December 2020 and makes the modifications for the extension period.
Development (Designated Day) (COVID-19) Variation Regulations 2020
- Amends the Development Regulations 2008.
Direction under Section 16 (Management of premises - No. 4)
- Restricts the number of persons present at certain types of premises.
Residential Tenancy (Extension of Emergency Period) Order (No. 2) 2020
- Extends until 1 December 2020, in accordance with section 3A(1) of the Residential Tenancy Act 1997, the emergency period that was to expire on 30 September 2020.
- Extends the COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) (Commercial Leases and Licences) Regulations 2020, and makes amendments to prescribe the eligible lease requirements, modify the operation of certain provisions relating to rent relief, empower the Small Business Commission to make certain orders, and confer jurisdiction on VCAT to enforce certain orders.
Restricted Activity Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 11)
- Restricts the operation of certain businesses and undertakings in the restricted area, clarifies the types of non-residential swimming pools that are permitted to be open and updates the details of the return of students to school - came into force at 11.59 pm on 4 October 2020.
Stay at Home Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 17)
- Requires persons who ordinarily reside in the restricted area to limit their interactions with others by restricting circumstances in which they may leave the residence and the restricted area, restricting gatherings, and prohibiting private gatherings (except in limited circumstances) - came into force at 11.59 pm on 4 October 2020.
Stay Safe Directions (Non-Melbourne) (No 3)
- Requires persons who ordinarily reside in the relevant area to wear face coverings, and limit their interactions with others by restricting gatherings, and restricts the circumstances in which they may leave the relevant area - came into force at 11.59 pm on 4 October 2020.
Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions (No 7)
- Limits the number of Victorians attending certain work premises to assist in reducing the frequency and scale of COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces, and establishes additional specific obligations on employers and workers in specific industries in relation to managing the risk associated with COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 pm on 4 October 2020.
Extension of State of Emergency Declaration
- Extends the State of emergency declared on 15 March 2020 for 14 days.
COVID-19 New Zealander Stranded Overseas Support Amendment (No 2) 2020
- Amends the expiry clause in the COVID-19 New Zealanders Stranded Overseas Support Programme from 20 October 2020 to 27 April 2021 to provide an extension to the programme.
- Makes amendments concerning aircrew members and certain medical attendants.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Election and Referendums) Order 2020
- Relates to the safe conduct of the 2020 general election and referendums, and enhancing public confidence to vote, in the context of COVID-19.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Australian Government:
- Economic Recovery Plan for Australia
- Guaranteeing Essential Services
- JobMaker
- Rebuilding the Economy and Securing Australia’s Future
- Tax Relief to Back Hard-Working Australians and to Create More Jobs
Australian Taxation Office:
Comcare:
- COVID-19 - Work health and Safety in a Changing Environment
- Striking the Balance with Flexible Working
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator:
Safe Work Australia:
- New COVID-19 WHS Guidance - Conferences, Events and Exhibitions
- Preventing Psychological Injury at Work During COVID-19 Information Sheet
Therapeutic Goods Administration:
- COVID-19 Delays to Adoption of TGO 91 Labels
- Hepworth Industrial Wear Fined $13,320 for Alleged Unlawful Importation of Surgical Face Masks in Relation to COVID-19
- Melbourne Woman Fined $2,664 for Alleged Unlawful Importation of Surgical Face Masks in Relation to COVID-19
- Plus Pak Fined $13,320 for Alleged Unlawful Importation of Medical Face Masks in Relation to COVID-19
- Premier Investments (Australia) Pty Ltd Fined $13,320 for Alleged Unlawful Importation of Medical Face Masks in Relation to COVID-19
- Sydney Tools Fined $26,640 for Alleged Unlawful Importation of Medical Face Masks in Relation to COVID-19
- TTB International Fined $13,320 for Alleged Unlawful Importation of Surgical Face Masks in Relation to COVID-19
ACT Government:
Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy:
The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory:
- COVID Relief Extends for Explorers
- Grants Open for Digital Transformation of Queensland Agribusinesses
- Keeping Queensland’s Future COVID Safe
- More Funding to Help Queensland Communities
- Multi-million-dollar Tourism Package for Qld Tourism Operators
- PPE Warehouse Expansion for Townsville
- Public Health Emergency Extended to Keep Queensland Open
- $9.6 Million in Further Funding to Disaster Proof
Consumer and Business Services:
SA Government:
Essential Services Commission:
VIC Government:
Department of Health:
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety:
- COVID-19 Rent Laws Extended: Landlord Bulletin 49
- COVID-19 Rent Laws Extended: Residential Parks Bulletin 13
- COVID-19 Residential Tenancies Emergency Period Extension - Landlord Fact Sheet
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation:
WA Government:
World Health Organisation:
- COVID-19 Disrupting Mental Health Services in Most Countries, WHO Survey
- The Best Time to Prevent the Next Pandemic is Now: Countries Join Voices for Better Emergency Preparedness
- UN Welcomes Nearly $1 Billion in Recent Pledges - To Bolster Access to Lifesaving Tests, Treatments and Vaccines to End COVID-19
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 14 October 2020.