COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 19 AUGUST 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.
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No. 7) 2020
- Extends the scope of the wage subsidy support provided under the JobKeeper scheme so that it also benefits employers of more recently engaged employees where the employer can otherwise qualify for JobKeeper payments in respect of an employee.
Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Refrigerated Cabinets) Determination 2020
- Replaces the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Refrigerated Cabinets) Determination 2019 which was due to commence on 15 August 2020, to allow stakeholders additional time to have their products registered by the commencement date due to the impact of COVID-19.
Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Refrigerated Cabinets Revocation) Instrument 2020
- Revokes the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Refrigerated Cabinets) Determination 2019.
Veterans’ Affairs Pharmaceutical Benefits Schemes Amendment Determination 2020
- Amends the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 and the MRCA Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.
Firearms Amendment Regulation 2020 (No 2)
- Temporarily relieves holders of certain firearms licences from requirements to comply with provisions of the Firearms Regulation 2008, where their ability to comply with those requirements is affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Public Health (Quarantine Fees) Determination 2020
- Imposes the payment of a quarantine fee for returned travellers who are required to quarantine in a place outside of their home within the ACT.
- Restricts non-essential gatherings and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
- Facilitates the use of certain buildings or places as vehicle sanitisation stations to help mitigate against the potential spread of COVID-19.
Public Health Amendment (COVID-19 Border Control - Transiting ACT Residents) Regulation 2020
- Allows for the issue of penalty notices for an offence against section 10 of the Public Health Act 2010 involving a contravention of a condition applying to certain ACT residents transiting through New South Wales to the ACT in accordance with an exemption.
Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Amendment Order (No 3) 2020
- Amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Order 2020 in relation to critical agriculture services and critical service (agriculture) workers.
Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Amendment (Transiting ACT Residents) Order 2020
- Provides a temporary exemption from Clause 5(1) of the Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Order 2020 for persons transitioning through NSW to ACT.
State Revenue Legislation Amendment (COVID-19 Housing Response) Act 2020
- Makes miscellaneous amendments to certain State revenue legislation in connection with stamp duty concessions under the First Home Buyers Assistance scheme, concessional land tax treatment for certain build-to-rent properties and payroll tax exemptions for payments under the Commonwealth’s Aged Care Workforce Retention Grant Opportunity program; and for related purposes.
Domestic and Family Violence Protection (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Regulation 2020
- Prescribes modified arrangements for procedures under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 and the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Rules 2014 to facilitate the safe continuance of court proceedings and the ongoing protection of people who fear or experience domestic violence during the COVID-19 emergency.
- 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 allow for emergency powers to be used to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading.
COVID-19 Emergency Response (General) Regulations 2020
- Requires the State Co-ordinator to notify the Minister of certain matters.
- Identifies areas within Victoria which have a higher prevalence of, or risk of exposure to, COVID-19 and which are subject to specific directions which are reasonably necessary to protect public health - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
Care Facilities Directions (No 10)
- Restricts access to care facilities in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 within a particularly vulnerable population - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
Diagnosed Persons and Close Contacts Directions (No 10)
- Requires persons diagnosed with COVID-19 to self-isolate, and persons living or in close contact with a diagnosed person to self-quarantine - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
Extension of Declaration of a State of Emergency
- Extends the declaration of a state of emergency made on 16 March 2020 until 11:59pm on 13 September 2020.
Hospital Visitors Directions (No 10)
- Prohibits non-essential visits to hospitals to limit the spread of COVID-19 - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
- Establishes the Permitted Worker Permit Scheme and the Access to Onsite Childcare/Kindergarten Permit Scheme - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
Restricted Activity Directions (Non-Melbourne) (No 3)
- Restricts the operation of certain businesses and undertakings in Victoria in the relevant area to address the serious public health risk posed by COVID-19 - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
Restricted Activity Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 8)
- Restricts the operation of certain businesses and undertakings in the restricted area to limit the spread of COVID-19 - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
Stay at Home Directions (Non-Melbourne) (No 3)
- Requires persons who ordinarily reside in the relevant area to limit their interactions with others by restricting circumstances in which they may leave the residence and the relevant area, restricting gatherings and prohibiting private gatherings - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
Stay at Home Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 12)
- 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 - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions (No 4)
- 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 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
- Limits the number of Victorians attending work premises to assist in reducing the frequency and scale of COVID-19 outbreaks in workplaces, and established more specific obligations on employers and workers in relation to managing the risk associated with COVID-19 - came into force at 11:59pm on 16 August 2020.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order 2020
- Sets out stay-at-home and physical distancing requirements in the alert level 3 area, social gathering requirements, movements that are considered essential personal movement, and requirements for businesses, services and workplaces, prohibits outdoor gatherings in an alert level 3 area and prohibits persons from entering an alert level 3 area unless returning to their principal residence.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (COVID-19 Testing) Order 2020
- Requires medical examination and testing for COVID-19 of persons who, since the specified time, have carried out certain work.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (COVID-19 Testing) Amendment Order 2020
- Extends the deadline for testing of affected workers for COVID-19 under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (COVID-19 Testing) Order 2020 from 11.59 pm on 17 August 2020 to 11.59 pm on 20 August 2020.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Managed Isolation and Quarantine Charges) Regulations 2020
- Prescribes charges to recover the costs of a person’s stay in a managed isolation or quarantine facility.
- Exempts persons entering an alert level 3 area for the purpose of travelling through the area to return to their principal residence, and persons leaving an alert level 3 area for the purpose of returning to their principal residence, from certain provisions of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order 2020 subject to certain conditions.
- Exempts persons travelling inter-regionally to access health services, or to support a person accessing health services, from certain provisions of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order 2020 subject to certain conditions.
FROM THE REGULATORS
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator:
Safe Work Australia:
Therapeutic Goods Administration:
ACT Government:
National Parks and Wildlife Service:
SafeWork NSW:
Business Queensland:
Maritime Safety Queensland:
The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Director:
EPA:
Essential Services Commission:
- Stage 4 Restrictions in Metropolitan Melbourne
- Water Customer Protections Strengthened to Provide Greater Support During Pandemic
Victorian Government:
WA Government:
WorkCover WA:
EPA:
- COVID-19 Update - Wednesday 12 August
- EPA's Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Level 2
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment:
NZ Government:
NZ Transport Agency:
WorkSafe NZ:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 26 August 2020.
