COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 7 JULY 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.
- Adds new disclosure requirements for COVID-19-related rent concessions to the Accounting Standard AASB 16 Leases (February 2016) and the Accounting Standard AASB 1060 General Purpose Financial Statements - Simplified Disclosures for For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Tier 2 Entities (March 2020) for entities reporting under Tier 2 (Simplified Disclosures).
Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (National Immunisation Program Vaccines) Rules 2021
- Amends the Australian Immunisation Register Rule 2015 to mandate that vaccination providers must, from 1 July 2021, report the administration of National Immunisation Program vaccines to the Australian Immunisation Register.
COVID-19 Disaster Payment (Funding Arrangements) Act 2021
- Establishes a special appropriation to draw funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the purpose of COVID-19 disaster payments.
- Covers certain medical products and hygiene products imported as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defence Determination, Conditions of Service Amendment Determination 2021 (No. 11)
- Among other things, extends by 1 year the provision of education assistance for the children of members on a long-term posting overseas who stayed in the United States of America during the COVID-19 evacuation consistent with DFAT advice concerning the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on government schools in the United States of America.
- Expands the circumstances in which business continuity payments (BCPs) can be paid to approved childcare providers.
Treasury Laws Amendment (COVID-19 Economic Response) Act 2021
- Amends the income tax law to extend the concessional tax treatment of payments received by eligible businesses under eligible COVID-19 recovery grand programs administered by State or Territory Governments and amends the tax secrecy provisions for the Taxation Administration Act 1953 to allow protected information to be disclosed to Services Australia for the purposes of administering the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 4) Act 2021
- Amends the law relating to taxation, corporations and consumer credit, and for related purposes.
Liquor (COVID-19 Emergency Response - Permit Fee Waiver) Declaration 2021
- Sets out that the fee for an application for a commercial permit is waived from 1 July 2021 until 31 July 2021 for liquor licensees with an on licence (bar licence, nightclub licence and restaurant and café licence).
Magistrates Court (Public Health (COVID-19) Infringement Notices) Amendment Regulation 2021 (No 2)
- Provides that where an offence under the Magistrates Court (Public Health (COVID-19) Infringement Notices) Regulation 2020 is for a failure to comply with a face mask direction, the infringement notice penalty is $200 for an individual and $1,000 for a corporation, and that an infringement notice may be issued against a person who is 16 years or older where the offence is for failing to comply with a direction to wear or carry a face mask.
Public Health (Check in Requirements) Emergency Direction 2021
- Limits the spread of COVID-19 by requiring reliable attendance records, which enable rapid and effective contact tracing.
- Requires persons to wear a face mask at Canberra airport and on domestic commercial flights unless exempt and to carry a face mask at all times.
Public Health (Mandatory Face Masks) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 2)
- Requires persons to wear face masks in certain situations and to carry a face mask at all times.
- Restricts non-essential gatherings and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Residential Tenancies (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Declaration 2021 (No 2)
- Continues the post moratorium transitional period for a further 3 months.
- Requires certain transportation service providers to be tested for, and vaccinated against, COVID-19 before they provide a transportation service to a person who arrives in NSW by aircraft and has been outside Australia or New Zealand in the previous 14 days.
COVID-19 Directions (No. 18) 2021: Directions for COVID-19 Public Exposure Sites in the Territory
- Requires each adult in the NT to check the COVID-19 NT website at least once every 24 hours to determine whether they have been in a COVID-19 public exposure site and, if they have been at an exposure site, to contact a COVID-19 hotline, submit to a test and travel to a suitable place for quarantine, among other things.
COVID-19 Directions (No. 23) 2021: Directions to Lock Down Alice Springs
- Restricts movement in and out of, and within, the lockdown area, requires persons to wear a face mask within the lockdown area and restricts gatherings.
- Prohibits providers of activities and services in the lockdown area from providing services and activities to the public unless provided by an essential worker, the place or premises where the essential worker provides services or a place for the conduct of a funeral with no more than 10 funeral attendees in total, including funeral providers.
- Restricts movement in and out of, and within, the lockdown area, requires persons to wear a face mask within the lockdown area and restricts gatherings.
COVID-19 Directions (No. 26) 2021: Directions for Face Masks
- Requires persons to wear a face mask in certain circumstances.
- Requires certain places, activities and services in former lockdown areas to be closed to the public.
- Prohibits certain persons who were in a former lockdown area from entering, attending or participation in specified places, activities and services.
COVID-19 Directions (No. 29) 2021: Directions for Gatherings at Private Residences
- Restricts gatherings at private residences.
COVID-19 Directions (No. 30) 2021: Amendment to CHO Directions No. 26 2021 Directions for Face Masks
- Identifies various areas in NSW as COVID-19 hotspots and removes 34 LGA’s and 2 unincorporated areas of WA as COVID-19 hotspots.
Queensland COVID-19 Restricted Areas (No. 16)
- Identifies Queensland COVID-19 restricted areas for the Public Health Direction - Residential Aged Care Direction, Public Health Direction - Disability Accommodation Services (No. 19), and the Public Health Direction - Hospital Visitors (No. 21) or their successors.
Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel - Associated Direction No 25) (COVID-19) Direction
- Declares the ACT, NT, NSW, QLD and WA as the multi-state restricted zone, and imposes level 4 and 6 requirements on certain multi-state restricted zone arrivals, and level 5 requirements on all overseas arrivals, among other things.
Emergency Management (Public Activities No 28) (COVID-19) Direction 2021
- Imposes principles and rules relating to the conduct of certain activities involving members of the public, the management of places in which those activities occur, and the management of contact tracing records.
Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 37) (COVID-19) Direction 2021
- Ensures that appropriate measures are taken to establish controls and safeguards to protect vulnerable members of the South Australian community, including by mandating a requirement to maintain records of COVID-19 vaccinations.
Care Facilities Directions (No 35)
- Provides for restricted access to care facilities in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 within a particularly vulnerable population - came into force at 11.59 pm on 1 July 2021.
Diagnosed Persons and Close Contacts Directions (No 24)
- Requires persons diagnosed with COVID-19 to self-isolate and persons who are living with a diagnosed person, or who have been in close contact with a diagnosed person, to self-quarantine - came into force at 11.59 pm on 1 July 2021.
Extension of Declaration of a State of Emergency
- Extends the declaration of a state of emergency made on 16 March 2020 until 11:59 pm on 29 July 2021.
Hospital Visitor Directions (No 31)
- Prohibits certain visits to hospitals to limit the spread of COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 pm on 1 July 2021.
Restricted Activity Directions (Metropolitan Melbourne) (No 6)
- Restricts the operation of certain businesses and undertakings in Metropolitan Melbourne to address the serious public health risk posed to Victoria by COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 pm on 1 July 2021.
Restricted Activity Directions (Regional Victoria) (No 6)
- Restricts the operation of certain businesses and undertakings in Regional Victoria to address the serious public health risk posed to Victoria by COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 pm on 1 July 2021.
Stay Safe Directions (Victoria) (No 23)
- Addresses the serious public health risk posed to the State of Victoria by the spread of COVID-19 by requiring masks to be worn in certain situations and to be carried at all times and by limiting gatherings, among other things - came into force at 11.59 pm on 1 July 2021.
Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions (No 18)
- Replaces the Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions and make minor clarifications to some restrictions currently in place, to limit the spread of COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 pm on 1 July 2021.
Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions (No 30)
- 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 1 July 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 establishes more specific obligations on employers and workers in relation to managing the risk associated with COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 pm on 1 July 2021.
COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery Fee Waiver (Parking Charges) Order (No. 3) 2021
- Waives parking charges levied under Rule 14 of the Government Railways (Parking Stations) By-Law 1997 and Regulation 32 of the Public Transport Authority Regulations 2003 from 1 July 2021 until 31 July 2021.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) Amendment Order (No 6) 2021
- Amends the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020 to reinstate the possibility of quarantine-free flights from Australia which were stopped due to the recent community outbreak of COVID-19 in Australia.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order (No 8) 2021
- Replaces the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order (No 7) 2021, and moves the Wellington region from alert level 2 to alert level 1. The rest of the country remains at alert level 1.
- Reinstates the possibility of quarantine-free travel (QFT) flights from Australia and imposes certain additional conditions relating to QFT flights from Australia due to the ongoing community outbreak of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payments Scheme (July 2021) Order 2021
- Activates the COVID-19 resurgence support payments scheme.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Australian Government:
Therapeutic Goods Administration:
- Batch Release Assessment of COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID-19 Vaccine Weekly Safety Report - 1-07-2021
- Starpharma Holdings Limited Fined $93,240 for Alleged Unlawful Advertising of ‘Viraleze’ in Relation to COVID-19
- Statement for Healthcare Professionals: How COVID-19 Vaccines are Regulated for Safety and Effectiveness
ACT Government:
- Check In CBR to Expand to Retail and Transport
- COVID-19 Update - Changes to Your Visit to ACT Health Facilities
- Free Shuttle at Canberra Airport Precinct COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinic
- Updated Northern Territory Advice
- Updated Travel Advice
- Updated Travel Directions for Queensland
- Visitor Restrictions Currently in Place
Department of Primary Industries:
NSW Government:
- COVID Check-In Mandate Explained
- Mass Vaccination Rollout Boost
- NSW Lockdown Extended Until Friday, 16 July
- NSW Pharmacies to Join Vaccine Rollout
NSW Health:
NT Government:
- Charges - Breach of CHO Directions
- Breach of CHO Directions - Darwin
- COVID-19 Australian Hotspots and Travel Restrictions
- COVID-19: Lockdown Lifted. Restrictions in Place
- COVID-19 Public Exposure Sites
- COVID-19 Update: QLD and WA Hotspots Revoked
- Greater Darwin Region & Alice Springs Lockdown to End
- Infringement - Breach of CHO Directions - Tanami
- Lockdown Support for Arts and Culture Sector
- Milestone for Territory Vaccine Rollout
Tasmanian Government:
- Check In to Keep our Community Safe
- COVID-19 Update - Northern Territory
- COVID-19 Update - Queensland
- COVID-19 Update - Western Australia and the Northern Territory
- Face Mask Requirements
- Important Community Updates
- Improving Border Restriction Passenger Processing Times at Hobart Airport
- Keeping Tasmanians Safe from COVID-19
- Residential Tenants and Landlords Receive more than $4.2 Million in COVID-19 Support
- Travel to New Zealand
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety:
Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage:
WA Government:
NZ Government:
- More Vaccinators Coming on Board for COVID-19 Campaign
- New Zealand’s Largest Vaccine Shipment Arrives Ahead of Schedule
- New Border Exception for 300 Teachers
- Pause to be Lifted for WA and NT; Management Return Flights from NSW and Queensland
- Wellington to Return to Level 1; QFT Pause with Australia to Lift for Some States and ACT from Sunday
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 14 July 2021.