COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 27 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.
- Implements additional public health measures regarding face masks, COVID-19 testing and close contacts, and applies to international flights commencing outside Australia from 22 January 2021.
- Implements additional public health measures regarding face masks, COVID-19 tests and close contacts, and applies to international flights commencing outside Australia from 22 January 2021.
Child Care Subsidy Amendment (Coronavirus Response Measures No. 1) Minister’s Rules 2021
- Amends the Child Care Subsidy Minister’s Rules 2017 to ensure that payments made by Victoria to kindergarten providers do not reduce the hourly rate of Child Care Subsidy that individuals are entitled to.
Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction 2021 (No. 8)
- Replaces the Public Health (COVID-19 Interstate Hotspots) Emergency Direction 2021 (No. 7) and gives directions regarding travel from interstate hotspots into the ACT to alleviate the emergency as declared in the Public Health (Emergency) Declaration 2020.
- Requires persons to wear a face mask at Canberra airport, and while on a domestic commercial aircraft into and out of Canberra airport, at all times unless an exemption applies.
- Follows on from the operation of the Taxation Administration (Payroll Tax - Businesses Not Permitted to Operate) COVID-19 Exemption Scheme Determination 2020 to provide payroll tax exemption to eligible employers until 30 June 2021.
Taxation Administration (Payroll Tax) COVID-19 Exemption Scheme Determination 2021
- Extends the operation of the Taxation Administration (Payroll Tax) COVID-19 Exemption Scheme Determination 2020 until 30 June 2021.
COVID-19 Emergency Response Modification of Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 Expiry Notice 2021
- Notifies the expiry of Clause 4 of Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020.
- Notifies the expiry of Section 7 of Part 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020.
Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 30) (COVID-19) Direction 2021
- Replaces the Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 29) Direction 2021, prohibits certain persons from entering South Australia, and directs certain persons to quarantine, submit to COVID-19 testing and wear face masks.
Emergency Management (Public Activities No 18) (COVID-19) Direction 2021
- Imposes principles and rules relating to certain activities involving members of the public, and management of places in which these activities occur, to minimise the spread of COVID-19.
Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 23) (COVID-19) Direction 2021
- Prohibits the entry of persons into residential aged care facilities except in certain circumstances, and requires such facilities to adopt a Workforce Management Plan and COVID-19 Infection Control Plan, among other things.
Direction Under Section 16 - Arrival Requirements for Certain Travellers into Tasmania No. 4
- Requires certain travellers arriving in Tasmania to undergo clinical assessments and testing to manage the threat of COVID-19.
Direction Under Section 16 - Isolation No. 4
- Requires persons diagnosed with COVID-19 to isolate according to the Direction.
Direction Under Section 16 - Quarantine No. 2
- Requires certain identified contacts and close contacts to be tested and to quarantine according to the Direction.
Stay Safe Directions (Victoria) (No 11)
- Replaces the Stay Safe Directions (Victoria) (No 10), clarifies the requirement to wear coverings when visiting hospitals and increases the daily private social gathering limit from 15 to 30 persons - came into force at 11.59 pm on 22 January 2021.
Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions (No. 4)
- Replaces the Victorian Border Crossing Directions No. 3 and makes minor changes to current border crossing restrictions - came into force at 11:59 pm on 22 January 2021.
Public Health (Notifiable Infectious Disease) Order (No. 3) 2020
- Declares COVID-19 to be a notifiable infectious disease and an urgently notifiable infectious disease under Section 90(2) of the Public Health Act 2016.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020 - Designation of Specified Places
- Replaces the Designation of Specified Places - COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020 and designates a list of countries or regions as specified places under Clause 4 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020.
- Exempts certain classes of persons returning to New Zealand, who have met specified criteria, from Clause 8(2B) of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Comcare:
Department of Health:
Therapeutic Goods Administration:
Business Queensland:
The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory:
Western Australian Government:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 3 February 2021.