COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 26 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.
- Adds new disclosure requirements to AASB 1060.
Child Care Subsidy Amendment (Coronavirus Response Measures No. 6) Minister’s Rules 2020
- Increases the number of allowable absence days that are available to individuals whose children are in care at approved child care services in Victoria, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Creative Economy Support Package, which aims to mitigate, and support the recovery of the arts sector from, the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Health (Emergency) Declaration Further Extension 2020 (No 11)
- Further extends the period during which the Public Health (Emergency) Declaration 2020 (No 1) is in force for 90 days.
Approval of Extension of a Major Emergency Declaration
- Further extends the Major Emergency declared on 22 March 2020 for 28 days.
- Amends Ministerial Order No. 615 - Fixing of Fees Administered by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (Ministerial Order No. 615) to fix certain fees as nil, in response to certain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 human biosecurity emergency.
Stay at Home Directions (Restricted Areas) (No 13)
- 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 20 August 2020.
Public Health Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020
- Enables mandatory fees to be imposed on persons arriving in WA who are required to quarantine at a hotel, and allows reasonable costs and expenses associated with the decontamination of premises including vessels to be recovered.
Workers' Compensation and Injury Management Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020
- Amends the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 to address issues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order (No 2) 2020
- Specifies restrictions and requirements for physical distancing, contract tracing, staying at home, workplaces, and gatherings, among other things.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Security of Managed Isolation and Quarantine Facilities) Order 2020
- Restricts entry to any managed isolation or quarantine facility to persons who are approved, authorised, or required to enter.
- Exempts persons employed or engaged in poultry production, slaughter/processing, distribution and export production from certain requirements of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order 2020.
- Exempts specialist veterinarians and allied veterinary professionals engaged at known veterinary practices and clinics, who must travel in and out of the Auckland region in order to provide essential and emergency animal health services and meet their duty of care obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, from certain requirements of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order 2020.
- Exempts persons working in the apiculture industry who must travel in and out of the Auckland region to undertake critical work including pollination services, maintaining the health of bees in hives and checking for diseases, from certain requirements of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order 2020.
- Exempts sheep and beef farm owners and workers who must travel in and out of the Auckland region in order to attend to livestock and meet their duty of care obligations under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, from certain requirements of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order 2020.
Social Security (COVID-19 - Childcare Assistance) Amendment Regulations 2020
- Makes amendments to ensure that assistance may continue to be paid during a child's temporary absence from certain programmes due to COVID-19 requirements.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications:
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator:
Transport for NSW:
QLD Government:
- Massive PPE Supply Boost to Stay Ahead of COVID Needs
- Palaszczuk Government Provides More Support for Manufacturing and Tourism Jobs
- Premier Releases the Next Phase of Qld’s Strong Economic Recovery Plan
- Qld COVID-19: Recovery Plan Updated and Health Protection Material Boosted
- Staff, Patients and Visitors to Wear PPE in Greater Brisbane Hospitals
- Urgent COVID-19 Update
Energy Safe Victoria:
EPA:
- How to Dispose of Masks and Other Protective Gear
- 1901: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Disposing Clinical Waste
Essential Services Commission:
VIC Government:
- ‘Click for Vic’ to Support Local Businesses and Local Jobs
- Help for Victorian Farmers and Producers to Sell Online
- Keeping the Tools We Need to Continue Coronavirus Fight
- New Help for Victorians with Their Energy Bills
- Pause on Evictions Extended and Extra Renter Protections
- Training, Mentoring and Cash Support for Business
Ministry for Culture and Heritage:
NZ Government:
World Health Organisation:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 2 September 2020.
