COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY 2021
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.
- Temporarily disapplies certain signature requirements during COVID-19.
- Declares certain grant programs administered by a State or Territory, or authority of a State or Territory, as eligible programs under which a payment received by an entity from an eligible program is non‑assessable non-exempt income.
- Amends LIN 20/229 to specify an additional class of persons, who are eligible to apply for a specific visa in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 6)
- Requires affected persons who are residents of the ACT to undertake a period of quarantine at designated premises and to complete a self-declaration form, prohibits affected persons who are not residents of the ACT from travelling to the ACT unless they have an exemption, and requires affected persons with an exemption to quarantine at designated premises.
Public Health Amendment (COVID-19 Mandatory Face Coverings) Regulation 2021
- Enables a penalty notice to be issued to a person for not complying with the Public Health (COVID-19 Mandatory Face Coverings) Order 2021.
Public Health (COVID-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) Order (No 4) Amendment Order 2021
- Amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) Order (No 4) 2020 concerning requirements for testing for COVID-19 for flight crew and other persons.
Public Health (COVID-19 Mandatory Face Coverings) Amendment (No 2) Order 2021
- Amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Mandatory Face Coverings) Order 2021 to require fitted face coverings to be worn at NSW airports, wherever located, and on domestic commercial aircraft flying into or out of New South Wales.
Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Order 2021
- Restricts the movement of persons who have been in certain Queensland COVID-19 hotspots since 2 January 2021 while those hotspots are in lockdown in Queensland.
- Amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) 2020 to prevent entry by certain persons to a specific sporting event and require fitted face coverings to be worn by spectators and other persons attending the event.
- Amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) 2020 to prevent entry by certain persons to some major sporting events and to require fitted face coverings to be worn by spectators and other persons attending major sporting events.
- Makes minor amendments to the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) 2020 concerning interpretative matters.
Declarations and Approval - COVID-19 Vaccine
- Declares certain health centres and clinics to be places to which Part 2.6 of the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2012 applies, approves a Scheduled Substance Treatment Protocol, and declares certain persons as approved to administer and possess a certain Schedule 4 substance.
Restrictions for Impacted Areas Direction No. 2
- Restricts outdoor gatherings, gatherings at residential and non-residential premises, requires physical distancing between persons who are outside their residence, restricts certain businesses, activities and undertakings and requires specific occupant density.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Removal of Children Expiry Notice 2020
- Provides that Clause 1(ea) of Part 1, Schedule 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020 will expire on 7 January 2021.
Extension of a Major Emergency Declaration
- Extends the Major Emergency declared on 22 March 2020 for 28 days.
Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Infringement Offences) Regulations 2021
- Prescribes refusing or failing to comply with a requirement in relation to a person travelling from a restricted area and seeking to enter Victoria without a reasonable excuse or other valid reason or excuse as an offence for which an infringement notice may be issued.
Stay Safe Directions (Victoria) (No 9)
- Requires residents of Victoria to wear face coverings, and limits interactions with others by restricting gatherings - came into force at 5.59 pm on 11 January 2021.
Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions
- Creates a new ‘traffic light’ border crossing scheme for persons seeking to enter Victoria from other States and the Territories, in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 - came into force at 5:59 pm on 11 January 2021.
Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions (No 16)
- 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 5.59 pm on 11 January 2021.
- Limits the number of Victorians attending work premises to assist in reducing the frequency and scale of COVID-19 outbreaks in Victorian workplaces and to establish more specific obligations on employers and workers in relation to managing the risk associated with COVID-19 - came into force at 5.59 pm on 11 January 2021.
Extension of Declaration (No. 2) of Public Health State of Emergency
- Extends the public health state of emergency which came into effect on 23 March 2020 for 14 days.
- Extends visas held by a specific class of persons for 6 months from the date of their expiry.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Department for Energy and Mining:
Department of Health:
Regional Development Victoria:
Victorian Government:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 20 January 2021.